Former Congressman Chet Holifield Dies at 91

Former Rep. Chet Holifield, who represented the people of eastern Los Angeles County for 32 years and earned the title “Mr. Atomic Energy” for his work on nuclear power, has died. He was 91.

The longtime Democratic dean of the California congressional delegation died of pneumonia Sunday in Redlands.

First elected in 1942, Holifield was reelected continuously by the overwhelming majority of his constituents in the Whittier area until his voluntary retirement in 1974.

Holifield was an original member and a former chairman of the now-disbanded Joint Committee on Atomic Energy and worked for civilian rather than military control of nuclear power.

He was a strong supporter of the atomic submarine fleet, a nuclear navy and high safety standards in producing and disposing of all nuclear products.

Holifield also served on the Government Operations Committee, where he authored the legislation establishing the General Services Administration .

He brought Southern California federal funds for flood control, bilingual education, post offices, hospitals, libraries, the Whittier College science building, Norwalk parkland and the Pico Rivera municipal golf course.

The former congressman was born in Mayfield, Ky., and spent his early youth in Springdale, Ark. As a 16-year old, he left home, riding the rails to Southern California. He started a dry-cleaning business in Montebello and expanded it into a successful men’s clothing store. He spent his retirement years at his home in Balboa.

Holifield’s wife, Cam, who greeted visitors to the congressman’s office, died in 1991. He is survived by two daughters, Lois Mulholland of Redlands and Betty Feldmann of Potomac, Md.; 15 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Rose Hills Memorial Chapel in Whittier. The family has asked that any memorial donations be sent to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.