Jack D. Steinhilber Papers, 1967-1974

Biography/History

Republican legislator and attorney Jack D. Steinhilber was born in Oshkosh on September 14, 1931. After graduating from local schools he attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, receiving a B.S. from the latter institution in 1953 and an LL.B. in 1955. As a youth, Steinhilber was active in the Young Republicans, and he won his first partisan election in 1957 when he was elected Winnebago County district attorney. In 1964 his career experienced a momentary setback with his defeat in the primary in a bid for a seat in Congress. Two years later, however, he was successful, this time winning William Steiger's former Assembly seat. Thereafter Steinhilber's political rise was rapid. Reelected in 1968, he was selected as head of the majority caucus when the Legislature convened in 1969. In 1970 he successfully made the switch to the State Senate and after only two years was selected as assistant majority leader.

In the Assembly Steinhilber was chairman of the Municipalities Committee (1969) and the Legislative Council's Local Government Committee (1969) and vice-chairman of the Joint Committee on Revisions, Repeals and Uniform Laws (1967). Leadership posts in the Senate included membership on the Joint Committee on Finance (1971), chairmanship of the Urban Affairs Committee (1973), and vice-chairmanships of the Legislative Council's Advisory Committee on Court Reorganization (1971) and Special Committee on Criminal Penalties (1971). Other positions are listed in biennial editions of the Blue Book.

Well known for his fiscal conservatism and his belief in a limited role for government, Steinhilber was generally regarded as a potential candidate for statewide elective office. In January 1974, however, he surprised political observers when he announced that he would not seek reelection. Since leaving the Legislature, Steinhilber has returned to his private law practice in Oshkosh, although he has continued his involvement in Republican politics.