William Hildenbrand, American government officer, Secretary of the United States Senate (1981–1985) died he was , 89

William F. Hildenbrand was an American government officer who served as the Secretary of the United States Senate from 1981 to 1985 died he was , 89.

(November 28, 1921 - July 21, 2011)

Hildenbrand was born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, on November 28, 1921.^[1] He enlisted in the United States Army in 1942 during World War II and was sent to Europe in the infantry.^[1] He returned to Philadelphia following the end of World War II, where he worked as a radio announcer.^[1] He was once again deployed by the Army during the Korean War.^[1]
Hildenbrand was hired as a congressional staffer by Rep. Harry Haskell, a Republican from Delaware, in 1957, based moved to Washington D.C.^[1] Haskell lost his bid for re-election in 1958, so Hildenbrand took a position with the Department of Health, Education and Welfare.^[1] In 1969, Hildenbrand returned to the Capitol when he was hired as a staff member for the Republican Minority Whip, Senator Hugh Scott of Pennsylvania.^[1]
Hildenbrand became the Secretary for the Minority of the Senate in 1974.^[1] Republicans won control of the United States Senate in the 1980 Senate elections and took control of the chamber in January 1981.^[1] Hildenbrand aided Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker in the the transition from Democratic control to Republican control, the first such transfer of party control in the Senate in twenty-six years.^[1]
The Republicans named Hildenbrand as the Secretary of the United States Senate in 1981.^[1] He served as Secretary until his retirement in 1985.^[1]
Hildenbrand released a memoir entitled, When the Senate Cared, in 2007.^[1] He also added his stories and history to the Senate's oral history archive for preservation.^[1]
Hildenbrand died on July 21, 2011, at the age of 89. The United States Senate passed a resolution honoring him for his service to the chamber.^[1]

 

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