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Randolph Carpenter

American WWI veteran, lawyer, and politician (1894–1956)

William Randolph Carpenter
From 1920's World War Roll of Honor, 1917-1920, Marion County, Kansas
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kansas's 4th district
In office March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1937
Preceded by	Homer Hoch
Succeeded by	Edward Herbert Rees
Member of the Kansas House of Representatives
In office 1929–1933
Personal details
Born	(1894-04-24)April 24, 1894 Marion, Kansas
Died	26 July 1956(1956-07-26) (aged 62) Topeka, Kansas
Resting place	Highland Cemetery, Marion, Kansas
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Helen Frances Williams
Alma mater	University of Michigan Law School
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch/service	United States Army Kansas National Guard
Years of service	1917–1952
Battles/wars	World War I

William Randolph Carpenter (April 24, 1894, Marion, Kansas – July 26, 1956, Topeka, Kansas) was a U.S. Representative from Kansas and a U.S. Army World War I veteran. He died in Topeka, Kansas, July 26, 1956 and was interred in Highland Cemetery, Marion, Kansas.

Biography[edit]

Carpenter attended local public and high schools in Marion, Kansas. He graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1917, where he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity.^[1] Carpenter was admitted to the bar that same year and commenced his practice in Marion, Kansas. He continued his family's agricultural pursuits by maintaining his farm.^[1]

World War I[edit]

Carpenter joined the U. S. Army National Guard in Marion in 1917 as a Second Lieutenant and helped organize Company M under the Third Regiment Infantry, Kansas National Guard. During the First World War he was called to active duty and was transferred to Company M, One Hundred Thirty-ninth Infantry Regiment, Thirty-fifth Infantry Division which deployed to France in early 1918. He was promoted to first lieutenant during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, and served until his discharge on May 8, 1919.^[1]

Marriage[edit]

Carpenter married Helen Frances Williams (born 20 November 1896 in Marion, Kansas - died January 1994 in Topeka, Kansas) daughter of Fred Reed & Frances Elizabeth (née Skidmore) Williams on 15 July 1920 in Marion, Kansas.^[1][2]

Community service^[1][edit]

• Member of the Marion Board of Education (1925–1933)
• Served in the State House of Representatives (1929–1933)
• Elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-third and Seventy-fourth Congresses (March 4, 1933–January 3, 1937). Declined to run in 1936 and resumed the practice of law.
• United States Attorney for the District of Kansas (1945–1948)
• Democratic candidate for governor in 1948
• Member of the United States Motor Carrier Claims Commission (1950–1952)

References[edit]

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress