William Hildenbrand
William F. Hildenbrand (November 28, 1921 – July 21, 2011) was an American government officer who served as the Secretary of the United States Senate from 1981 to 1985.[1]
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 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]