Thomas H. Werdel

Thomas Harold Werdel (September 13, 1905 – September 30, 1966) was a U.S. Representative from California.

Born in Emery, Hanson County, South Dakota, Werdel moved with his parents to Kern County, California, in 1915. He attended the public schools and Kern County Union High School. He was graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1930 and from the University of California Law School in 1936. He was admitted to the bar in 1936 and commenced the practice of law in Bakersfield, California. He served as member of the California State Assembly from the thirty-ninth district in the legislative sessions of 1943 and 1945.

Werdel was elected as a Republican to the Eighty-first and Eighty-second Congresses (January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1953). In 1952, he hoped to lead a pro-Taft, anti-Warren delegation to the Republican National Convention, but Governor Earl Warren, a favorite son candidate, once again controlled California's votes.

He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1952 to the Eighty-third Congress. He resumed the practice of law. In 1956, he was the Vice President candidate for the States' Rights Party; his running mate was T. Coleman Andrews. They won 107,929 votes (0.17%), doing best in Virginia, where they won 6.16% of the vote.

He died in Bakersfield, California, September 30, 1966. He was interred in Greenlawn Memorial Park.

References

• Thomas H. Werdel at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

External links

• Thomas H. Werdel at Find a Grave

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Alfred J. Elliott	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 10th congressional district 1949–1953	Succeeded by Charles S. Gubser

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.