LANSING – Gov. Rick Snyder ordered U.S. flags throughout the state to be lowered to half-staff in honor of former U.S. Rep. Howard Wolpe on Tuesday to coincide with a memorial service. Flags should be returned to full-staff on Wednesday.
Wolpe, 71, of Saugatuck, died of a heart condition in his home on Oct. 25.
“Congressman Wolpe was an outstanding public servant and leader,” Snyder said. “He worked across the aisle and was truly passionate about Michigan and serving others.
He will be remembered for the positive impact he made in Kalamazoo, Africa and across our state and nation.”
Wolpe was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978. He represented southwestern Michigan and served seven terms.
He was chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Africa from 1982 to 1992, where he played an instrumental role in the changes to U.S. policy on Africa, including enabling passage of the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986.
He also chaired the Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.
His other roles in Congress included co-chairing the bipartisan Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition and the Congressional Energy and Environmental Study Conference.
Prior to entering Congress, he served in the Michigan House of Representatives and as a member of the Kalamazoo City Commission.
Wolpe will have two separate memorial services. One will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Miller Auditorium on the campus of Western Michigan University. The other will be held Jan. 19 in Washington, D.C., at the Ronald Regan Building.