Sam Steiger

(1929 - 2012)

Sam Steiger was a Jewish American politician and journalist who served in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Steiger (born March 10, 1929; died September 26, 2012) was born in New York City. He attended Cornell University but eventually graudated with a B.S. from Colorado A.&M.

After college, Steiger commissioned as an officer in the United States Army and served as a tank platoon leader in Korea. He was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart for his actions in the war.

From 1960 to 1964, Steiger served two terms in the Arizona state senate. Following a close loss in election for U.S. Congress in 1964, Steiger went to Vietnam as a war correspondent for two local newspapers.

In 1966, Steiger made a second run for Congress and this time defeated incumbent Democrat George Senner to take a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Steiger was subsequently re-elected to the four succeeding Congressese, serving until January 1977. In November 1976 he was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate.

Steiger later made two unsuccesful runs for Arizona governor. He died in Prescott, Arizona on September 26, 2012.

Sources: Biographical Dictionary of the United States Congress; Wikipedia