Dan Schaefer Papers

Daniel ''Dan'' Schaefer was born on January 25, 1936 in Guttenberg, Iowa. He attended public schools and earned his B.A. from Niagra University, Niagra Falls, N.Y. in 1961. He also attended Potsdam University, Potsdam, N.Y. from 1961-1964. Schaefer served in the United States Marine Corps from 1955-1957. A public relations consultant and teach who once playe minor league baseball, Schaefer first served in the Colorado House of Representatives from 1977 to 1978 and then in the State Senate from 1979 to 1983 when he was elected to Congress. He was elected as a Republican to the 98th Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative-elect John L. Swigert, and was re-elected to the seven succeeding Congresses (March 29, 1983-January 3, 1999). He served on the House Commerce Committee, chairing at various times the Energy and Power as well as the Telecommunications, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittees. He also served on the Veteran’s Affairs Subcommittee on Benefits. Schaefer served on the House Trails Caucus, whose mission was to increase awareness of the national system of trails in the United States, and the Renewable Energy Caucus. He helped secure funds for Colorado's Highway C-470 and he advocated for the cleanup of the former nuclear weapons site at Rocky Flats. He co-authored a bill to create a national sales tax. He died on April 16, 2006 in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.