Burt Talcott

Born in Billings, Montana, Talcott received his degree from Stanford University in 1942, after which he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps where he became a bomber pilot. On a mission in a B-24[1] over Austria, Talcott was shot down and captured, spending 14 months in a German Prisoner-of-war camp. Upon his discharge from the military in 1945 he received the Air Medal and Purple Heart with clusters.[2]

Talcott served on the Monterey County, California Board of Supervisors and was president of the county board. Talcott was elected to the 88th United States Congress as a Republican and served an additional seven terms (January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1977) before losing his seat in 1976 to Leon Panetta in a close race, as Panetta prevailed with 53% of the vote.[3][4][5][6]

Following his loss, Talcott engaged in a variety of private and public legislative work.[7]

He resided in Tacoma, Washington, with his son and daughter-in-law, Ron & "Gigi" Talcott. He always made time for his faith and his family. He was elected to serve on the Charter Review Commission Dist. 7 Pos. 3 of Pierce County.[2] His wife, Lee Taylor, whom he married in 1942, died in 2010.[8] He died in Tacoma on July 29, 2016, at the age of 96. Both Lee and Burt played active roles in the raising of their two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He could be found supporting his alma mater, Stanford, and making milkshake bets with his great-grandson over the outcome of their football games. The year he passed, he took a 10-hour road trip to Idaho, just to watch his 3rd eldest great-granddaughter graduate from high school.[9]

• Glenn E. Coolidge

• United States Congress. "Burt Talcott (id: T000022)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.