Richard Boehning

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Richard Boehning

| image =

| caption =

| office = Indiana House of Representatives Majority Floor Leader

| term_start = November 27, 1968

| term_end = 1972

| preceded =

| succeeded =

| office2 = State Representative from Tippecanoe County

| alongside2 = Frances Gaylord

| term_start2 = 1966

| term_end2 = 1972

| preceded2 =

| succeeded2 =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1937|07|02}}

| birth_place = Rensselaer, Indiana, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| restingplace =

| party = Republican

| otherparty =

| father =

| mother =

| spouse = {{Marriage|Phyllis Albrecht Gutwein|1957|2015|end=Her death}}

| children = 5

| relatives =

| education = Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University School of Law

| signature =

}}

Richard A. Boehning ((pronounced ben-ing) born July 2, 1937) was an American politician and businessman who served as a state representative and state House Majority Floor Leader as a Republican.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40946003/the_indianapolis_news/ |title=Where Are They Now? |date=19 September 1977 |work=The Indianapolis News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222221806/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40946003/the_indianapolis_news/ |archive-date=22 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=46 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40969268/journal_and_courier/ |title=Measure of Fame: Boehning's Name Mangled in the Congressional Record |date=27 May 1967 |work=Journal and Courier |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223075404/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40969268/journal_and_courier/ |archive-date=23 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Life

Richard A. Boehning was born on July 2, 1937, in Rensselaer, Indiana, and attended Francesville High School.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40969093/journal_and_courier/ |title=Boehning Is Named New City Attorney |date=19 November 1963 |work=Journal and Courier |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223074058/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40969093/journal_and_courier/ |archive-date=23 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=40 |via=Newspapers.com}}

In 1957 he married Phyllis Albrecht Gutwein whom he would later have five children with and who would serve on the Lafayette City Council from 1984 to 1999.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40946225/journal_and_courier/ |title=Phyllis Albrecht Boehning |date=14 January 2015 |work=Journal and Courier |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222222428/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40946225/journal_and_courier/ |archive-date=22 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=C3 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 1959 he graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a Bachelor of Science degree and graduated from the Indiana University School of Law in 1961. In 1961 he became a precinct committeeman in Francesville and in 1964 he was appointed as Lafayette's city attorney by Mayor Donald W. Blue.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40969466/the_indianapolis_news/ |title=Boehning Draws Winning Cards In Political Career |date=3 February 1971 |work=The Indianapolis News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223081245/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40969466/the_indianapolis_news/ |archive-date=23 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=45 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40946915/journal_and_courier/ |title=Boehning To Run For Legislature |date=7 March 1966 |work=Journal and Courier |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222223747/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40946915/journal_and_courier/ |archive-date=22 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=26 |via=Newspapers.com}}

On March 7, 1966, he announced that he would run for the Republican nomination for state representative from Tippecanoe County. On May 3, 1966, he and Frances Gaylord won the top two Republican primary and both received the Republican nomination and both went on to win in the general election against Democratic nominees Harry A. Fink and Robert L. Huffman.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40947304/journal_and_courier/ |title=Andrew Is Senate Nominee |date=4 May 1966 |work=Journal and Courier |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222224204/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40947304/journal_and_courier/ |archive-date=22 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40947325/journal_and_courier/ |title=Andrew, Boehning, Gaylord to Legislature |date=9 November 1966 |work=Journal and Courier |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222224344/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40947325/journal_and_courier/ |archive-date=22 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=58 |via=Newspapers.com}} In the 1967 session he served as chairman of the Cities and Towns House committee and served as a member on the Judiciary and Natural Resources and Conservation committees.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40969151/journal_and_courier/ |title=For State Representative |date=2 May 1968 |work=Journal and Courier |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223074510/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40969151/journal_and_courier/ |archive-date=23 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=57 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40969214/journal_and_courier/ |title=Freshman Legislators Draw Big Assignments |date=16 January 1967 |work=Journal and Courier |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223074948/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40969214/journal_and_courier/ |archive-date=23 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=20 |via=Newspapers.com}}

On November 27, 1968, he was elected as House Majority Floor Leader after defeating four other candidates on the third ballot with 36 out of 71 votes.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40969408/the_star_press/ |title=Riggin Loses Bid for Majority Leader |date=28 November 1968 |work=The Star Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223080737/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40969408/the_star_press/ |archive-date=23 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} On January 13, 1971, he introduced a constitutional amendment to Indiana's constitution that would lower the voting age from 21 years old to 18 years old two months ahead of the federal 26th Amendment.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40948272/the_south_bend_tribune/ |title=State Vote at 18 in 1972? |date=13 January 1971 |work=The South Bend Tribune |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222224344/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40947325/journal_and_courier/ |archive-date=22 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}

He considered running in the Republican primary against Representative Earl Landgrebe in the Second Congressional District during the 1970 election, but later chose not to.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40946607/the_indianapolis_news/ |title=Boehning May Run Against Landgrebe |date=25 July 1969 |work=The Indianapolis News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222222959/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40946607/the_indianapolis_news/ |archive-date=22 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} On November 9, 1971, Boehning announced that he would challenge Landgrebe for the Republican nomination in Indiana's Second Congressional District later citing Landgrebe's narrow victory in 1970 and him being the only member of Indiana's Republican delegation to refuse to join the Indiana section of the Committee for the Re-Election of the President.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40914783/the_indianapolis_news/ |title=Boehning Running Against Landgrebe |date=9 November 1971 |work=The Indianapolis News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222034147/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40914783/the_indianapolis_news/ |archive-date=22 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40911844/the_indianapolis_star/ |title=Boehning |date=25 April 1972 |work=The Indianapolis Star |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222023714/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40911844/the_indianapolis_star/ |archive-date=22 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=12 |via=Newspapers.com}} During the primary Charles A. Halleck, who had served in the district before Landgrebe and House Majority and Minority Leader, gave his endorsement to Boehning.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40914208/journal_and_courier/ |title=Halleck's Backing Given Boehning |date=6 April 1972 |work=Journal and Courier |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222033129/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40914208/journal_and_courier/ |archive-date=22 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} Landgrebe narrowly defeated Boehning with 34,813 votes for 54.20% against his 29,417 votes for 45.80% of the vote.

Electoral history

{{hidden begin|toggle=left|title=Richard Boehning electoral history}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title = 1966 Indiana Tippecanoe County State Representative election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Frances Gaylord

|votes = 5,186

|percentage = 27.35%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Richard Boehning

|votes = 4,104

|percentage = 21.64%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Hal L. Force

|votes = 2,998

|percentage = 15.81%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Bruce Osborn

|votes = 2,611

|percentage = 13.77%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Kenneth L. Thayer

|votes = 2,507

|percentage = 13.22%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = William German

|votes = 1,557

|percentage = 8.21%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 18,963

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Richard Boehning

|votes = 19,555

|percentage = 32.11%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Frances Gaylord

|votes = 19,361

|percentage = 31.79%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Robert L. Huffman

|votes = 11,058

|percentage = 18.16%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Harry A. Fink

|votes = 10,921

|percentage = 17.93%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 60,895

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box begin|title = 1972 Indiana Second Congressional District Republican Primary{{Cite news |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=556505 |title=IN District 2 - R Primary 1972 |date=20 August 2009}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Earl Landgrebe

|votes = 34,813

|percentage = 54.20%

|change = -2.28%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Richard Boehning

|votes = 29,417

|percentage = 45.80%