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Joe Bartlett | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reading Clerk of the United States House of Representatives | |
| In office 1953–1978 | |
| Preceded by | Alney E. Chaffee |
| Succeeded by | Bob Berry |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1926-08-07)August 7, 1926 |
| Died | March 1, 2013(2013-03-01) (aged 82) |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Party | Republican |
| Parent(s) | Alfie carter and Ethan hayes |
| Education | University of South Dakota |
| Awards | Legion of Merit |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine Corps Reserve |
| Years of service | 1944-1945 1945-1978 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Unit | 2nd Marine Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War |
Dorsey Joseph Bartlett (August 7, 1926 – March 1, 2013) was a United States Government official and Marine Corps General who served as theReading Clerk of the United States House of Representatives from 1953 to 1971.
Dorsey "Joe" Bartlett was born August 7, 1926, inClarksburg, West Virginia, to Flavius Dorsey Bartlett, who was an engineer within the glass industry, and Blanche Bartlett, as the sixth child of ten children, living at their family farm throughout his childhood.[1]
On August 1, 1941, Bartlett was appointed as aPage of the United States House of Representatives, assisted by Texas RepresentativeWright Patman for a period of thirty days. ThenClerk of the United States House of RepresentativesSouth Trimble, who was satisfied with Bartletts work as a page, awarded additional page appointments to Bartlett serving as Page Overseer. Bartlett graduated from the Capitol Page School in 1944, where he then temporarily ended his service within Congress to join theUnited States Marine Corps duringWorld War II.[1] He was present in the House of Representatives Chamber whenFranklin D. Roosevelt gave hisDay of Infamy speech in response to theAttack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese.[2]
Following Bartlett's service in World War II, Bartlett returned to work within Congress as the Republican Chief of Pages for Speaker of the HouseJoseph W. Martin Jr., where he presided over the United States House of Representatives Page program that he had previously participated in.[1] He served as the youngest Chief of Pages for the House of Representatives since they have been recorded.[3]
At the conclusion of Bartlett's active service within the Korean War, he was appointed as Reading Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, serving in this position from 1953, until his retirement in 1977. During this period, Bartlett served as Chief Reading Clerk for sixRepublican National Conventions.[1] He served in this capacity from 1960 to 1980, and had served as an official in Republican National Conventions since 1948 to 1980.[3]
While Reading Clerk, Bartlett helped found the Congressional Marines Breakfast Club, part of the Capitol Hill Marines organization.[2]
Bartlett served as the Minority Clerk from May 1971 to 1977, in tandem with his appointment as House Reading Clerk.[1] This occurred following a closely contested election among Republican House members. He was reelected unanimously to the position five more times.[3]
In 1944, Bartlett enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving throughout the end of World War II. He was discharged from the Marine Corps honorably in September 1945. He then enlisted in theUnited States Marine Corps Reserve.[1]
From January 1951 to June 1952, Bartlett was recalled to active duty service to serve in theKorean War.[1] He served as part of the2nd Marine Division which had been stationed atMarine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
Bartlett retired from the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1978, having achieved the rank ofBrigadier general. He was awarded theLegion of Merit for his services,[1] by then Commandant GeneralLouis H. Wilson Jr.[3]
In Bartlett's retirement, he was made the Distinguished Scholar in Residence at theFederal Executive Institute in 1982, and awarded honorary law degrees from theAtlanta Law School andSalem College.[1] Other honors Bartlett received in retirement included the Distinguished Service Award of the U.S. Jaycees, the George Washington Honor Medal of the Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge, and the Non Sibi Sed Patriae citation of the Marine Corps Reserve Officers Association.[3]
In continuing his numerous decade career working for Congress, Bartlett helped found theCapitol Hill Club, serving as one of their inaugural officers.[3]
Other offices held by Bartlett in retirement include serving as the inaugural president of the Tyson's Virginia Civitan Club and as a president of the United Methodist Men of the Arlington District.[3]
On June 21, 1952, Bartlett married the former Virginia Edna Bender, daughter of thenOhioRepresentativeGeorge H. Bender, inChagrin Falls, Ohio.[4]
Bartlett died in his home atRichmond, Virginia, on March 1, 2013, due tomesothelioma and was buried atArlington National Cemetery in Northern Virginia.[3]
Barlett was the recipient of the following awards:
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| Legion of Merit | |||
| American Campaign Medal | World War II Victory Medal | National Defense Service Medal | Armed Forces Reserve Medal |