Background
Sawyer, Harold SAmuel was born on March 21, 1920 in San Francisco, California, United States. Son of Harold S. and Agnes Veronica (McGugan) Sawyer.
United States representative politician
Sawyer, Harold SAmuel was born on March 21, 1920 in San Francisco, California, United States. Son of Harold S. and Agnes Veronica (McGugan) Sawyer.
Associate of Arts, College Marin, 1939; Bachelor, University of California, Berkeley, 1940; Juris Doctor, Hastings College University of California, San Francisco, 1943.
He earned a Juris Doctor from the Hastings College of Law at the University of California, San Francisco in 1943. He served in the United States Navy during World World War II, after which he settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan and established a successful private law practice. From 1975 to 1976, he was prosecuting attorney for Kent County.
In 1976, Sawyer defeated incumbent Democrat Richard Vander Veen to reclaim Michigan"s 5th congressional district for the Republicans.
The seat had been held by Gerald R. Ford until he was appointed to become Vice President of the United States. Sawyer was elected to the Ninety-fifth and to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1977 to January 3, 1985.
He was not a candidate for reelection to the Ninety-ninth Congress in 1984. Sawyer served on the House Select Committee on Assassinations investigating the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Junior.
Sawyer was one of four members who dissented from the Committee"s finding that Dictabelt evidence suggested that Kennedy was "probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy." Responding to a question asking how he would handle the Committee"s report if he were at the Justice Department, he replied: "I"d file it in a circular file." Sawyer stated that the conclusions in both cases were based on "supposition upon supposition upon supposition".
In 2003, Sawyer died of throat cancer at his home in Algoma Township. He is interred in Rockford Cemetery, in Rockford, Michigan.
Board directors West Michigan Legal Aid Society, since 1985. Director Greater Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce. President D.A. Blodgett Home for Children, Camp Blodgett Children's Camp.
Fellow American College Trial Lawyers, International Academy Trial Lawyers (board directors 1965-1971), International Society Barristers, American Bar Foundation (life), Michigan Bar Foundation (life). Member American Law Institute (life), United States Judicial Conference (life, 6th circuit).
Married Marcia Steketee, August 26, 1944. Children: Stephen R., David H., Keary W., Mariya Sinclair.