Paul H. Todd Jr.

Paul Harold Todd Jr. (September 22, 1921[1]  November 18, 2008) was a politician, soldier and business executive from the U.S. state of Michigan.

Paul H. Todd Jr.

Early life and education

Todd was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the son of Paul H. Todd, mayor of Kalamazoo in 1937, and the grandson of Albert M. Todd, former U.S. Representative and the "Peppermint King" founder of the A.M. Todd Company.[1] Paul Todd graduated from Beverly Hills High School, Beverly Hills, California in 1937.[2] He received a B.S. at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York in 1943.[1]

Career

Todd served in the United States Army Signal Corps and the Office of Strategic Services from 1942 to 1945. He received a bronze star for his service during World War II.[1] He was founder of Kalamazoo Spice Extraction Co. (now known as Kalsec) in 1958.[1]

In 1962, he unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Republican U.S. Representative August E. Johansen in Michigan's 3rd congressional district.[3] In 1964, Todd defeated Johansen to be elected as a Democrat to the 89th Congress, serving from January 3, 1965 to January 3, 1967.[1] He was known as one of the Michigan Five Fluke Freshmen and was in 1966 he lost in the general election to Republican Garry E. Brown.[1]

Todd later served as chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood from 1967 to 1970.[1] He was appointed to the Governor’s Commission on Ethics and served from 1972 to 1976. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the 94th Congress in 1974.[1] He is a former chair of the Board of Directors of Pathfinder International.

Before his death on November 18, 2008, Todd resided in Kalamazoo, Michigan.[1] Todd was married to Terry for 51 years and together they had two children.[1] Terry preceded him in death in 1997.[1] Todd married Caroline Ham, a former Kalamazoo mayor, in 2004.[1]

References

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
August E. Johansen
United States Representative for the 3rd Congressional District of Michigan
1965–1967
Succeeded by
Garry E. Brown
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