BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : AFRICAN AMERICAN " ALAN WHEAT " IS AN AMERICAN POLITICIAN FROM THE STATE OF MISSOURI : GOES INTO THE " HALL OF BLACK GENIUS "

            BLACK    SOCIAL   HISTORY                                                                                                                              

Alan Wheat

BLACK               SOCIAL             HISTORY

Alan Wheat
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 5th district
In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Richard W. Bolling
Succeeded by	Karen McCarthy
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives from District 26
In office 1977–1983
Preceded by	Harold L. Holliday
Succeeded by	Chris Kelly
Personal details
Born	October 16, 1951 (age 63) San Antonio, Texas
Political party	Democratic
Children	3
Alma mater	Grinnell College
Religion	Church of Christ

Alan Dupree Wheat (born October 16, 1951) is an American politician from the state of Missouri.

Early life

Wheat graduated from Grinnell College in 1972 and served in the Missouri General Assembly from 1977 to 1982. When Congressman Richard Walker Bolling chose to retire after the 1982 election, Wheat won the Democratic primary and he went on to win the general election to succeed Bolling.

House career and Senate campaign[edit]

Wheat was the youngest member of the United States House of Representatives ever to be appointed to the Rules Committee, and was also the first African-American to represent a district with a non-liberal white majority. He was also a member of the United States House Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families^[1]

After United States Senator John Danforth said he would not run for re-election in the 1994 election, Wheat chose to leave the House and instead run for Danforth's seat. He won the primary, becoming the first African-American nominated by either major party for a statewide office. Wheat lost the general election to former governor John Ashcroft. Karen McCarthy was elected to succeed him in the House.

Post-Congressional career

After his Senate race, Wheat was chosen as vice president of Public Policy and Government Relations at CARE. He served as deputy campaign manager of President Bill Clinton's re-election campaign in 1996. In 1997, Wheat formed the lobbying group Wheat Government Relations. Wheat Government Relations is a full service lobbying firm representing clients on a broad range of issues including: Health Care, Energy, Financial Services, Education, Telecommunications, Information Technology, etc.

Wheat Government Relations represents clients on the issues of: 1) Health Care 2) Federal Budget & Appropriations [1]; 3) Indian & Native American Affairs [2];

Wheat currently serves on the Board of Directors at CARE. He has three children.