Marvin L. Esch

Esch was born in FlintoninCambria County, Pennsylvania. He received his secondary education in Akron, Ohio, and Jackson, Michigan. He attended the University of MichiganatAnn Arbor, earning an A.B. in 1950, an M.A. in 1951, and a Ph.D. in 1957. He served in the U.S. Maritime Service and the United States Army. He was a member of the faculty at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan and a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives, where he represented the 53rd district, from 1965 to 1966.^[1][2]

In 1966, Esch defeated former U.S. Representative George Meader in the Republican primary elections for Michigan's 2nd congressional district.^[3] He went on to defeat incumbent Democrat Wes E. Vivian, one of the "Five Fluke Freshmen", in the general election to be elected to the 90th United States Congress.^[4] He was re-elected to the four succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1967 to January 3, 1977. He was not a candidate for reelection to the Ninety-fifth Congress in 1976, but was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate, losing in the general election to Democrat Donald W. Riegle, Jr.^[1][5][6] He won 47% of the vote in that race.^[7]

He was director of public affairs for the U.S. Steel Corporation from 1977 to 1980, the director of programs and seminars for the American Enterprise Institute from 1981 to 1987, and a private advocate.^[1] He was an emeritus trustee of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.^[8] He was a resident of Ann Arbor, Michigan.^[5]