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Mitchell Melich

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mitchell Melich (1 February 1912 in Bingham Canyon, Salt Lake County, Utah – 12 June 1999) was Solicitor for the United States Department of the Interior under the first Richard Nixon administration.

Biography

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Melich was born in Bingham Canyon, Utah to parents who were immigrants from Serbia.[1] In high school and college Melich worked as a copper miner in Bingham Canyon.[2] He received a law degree from the University of Utah in 1934.[1] That same year he moved to Moab, Utah.[1] He worked as Moab attorney and also as Grand County, Utah attorney.[1] He was elected to the Utah State Senate in 1942.[1] He served in the state senate until 1950 and was the majority leader in 1949.[2] In 1948 he ran unsuccessfully for U.S. congress.[1]

In 1952 he was involved with Charles Steen in founding Utex Exploration Co.[1][3] He also was president of Uranium Reduction Co. from 1954 to 1962.[1]

A lawyer and a member of the Republican Party, Melich ran for the Utah governorship in 1964, but lost to Democrat Cal Rampton.[3]

While he was solicitor to the interior department Melich served for a short time as acting secretary of the interior after Walter J. Hickel was removed from office.[2]

After his time with the interior department Melich moved to Salt Lake City where he worked as a lawyer with the law firm of Ray, Quinney and Nebeker.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Obituary: Mitchell Melich". Deseret News. 14 June 1999.
  2. ^ a b c d "Former GOP official Mitchell Melich dies". Deseret News. 14 June 1999.
  3. ^ a b Barker, Vicki (November 2008). "The Melich Family". moabhappenings.com.
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of Utah
1964
Succeeded by