Representative Allen Edward Ertel

Allen Edward Ertel (November 7, 1937 – November 19, 2015) was an American lawyer and politician who served three terms as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania’s 17th congressional district from 1977 to 1983. A member of the Democratic Party, he contributed to the legislative process during a significant period in American history, participating in the democratic process and representing the interests of his constituents in central Pennsylvania.

Ertel was born on November 7, 1937, in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the Williamsport area before leaving the state to pursue higher education. He attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, where he received an A.B. degree in 1958. Demonstrating an early interest in both technical and managerial fields, he went on to earn an M.S. from Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering and an M.B.A. from the Tuck School of Business in 1959. He later studied law at Yale Law School in New Haven, Connecticut, receiving an LL.B. degree in 1965, thereby completing a broad academic preparation that combined engineering, business, and legal training.

Between his undergraduate and legal studies, Ertel served in the United States Navy from 1959 to 1962. His naval service coincided with the early years of the Cold War and provided him with experience in disciplined public service that would inform his later legal and political career. After completing his military service, he returned to his legal studies at Yale, positioning himself for a career in the law and public affairs.

Following law school, Ertel began his legal career as a judicial law clerk. From 1965 to 1966, he clerked for Chief Judge Caleb Wright of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. This experience in the federal judiciary introduced him to the workings of the federal court system and provided a foundation in complex litigation and judicial procedure. He then returned to Pennsylvania, where he entered public service at the county level. From 1967 to 1977, he served as district attorney of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, prosecuting criminal cases and managing the operations of the county prosecutor’s office. During this period, he also became active in state and national Democratic politics, serving as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1972.

Ertel was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 as a Democrat from Pennsylvania’s 17th congressional district and took his seat in the 95th Congress on January 3, 1977. He was subsequently reelected to the 96th and 97th Congresses, serving continuously until January 3, 1983. His tenure in Congress spanned the administrations of Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, a time marked by economic challenges, energy policy debates, and shifting national priorities. As a member of the House of Representatives, Allen Edward Ertel participated in the legislative process and represented the interests of his constituents, contributing to deliberations on domestic policy, economic issues, and federal programs affecting Pennsylvania. He chose not to be a candidate for reelection to the House in 1982.

Rather than seek reelection to his House seat in 1982, Ertel ran for Governor of Pennsylvania as the Democratic nominee. He was an unsuccessful candidate in that race, concluding his congressional service at the end of his third term. He remained active in statewide politics, and in 1984 he sought the office of Pennsylvania Attorney General, again unsuccessfully. After these campaigns, he returned to the practice of law in his hometown of Williamsport, resuming his legal career in private practice while maintaining an interest in public and community affairs.

In his later years, Ertel expanded his involvement in community-based corrections and rehabilitation. He served as chairman of Firetree, Ltd., a nonprofit organization that provides addiction treatment and reentry services to individuals transitioning from the criminal justice system. Through this role, he worked to support programs aimed at reducing recidivism and assisting individuals in rebuilding their lives after incarceration. He was also active in local civic and religious life, holding membership in St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church in Williamsport and participating in the Warrensville area Lions Club, a service organization dedicated to community improvement and volunteer initiatives.

Allen Edward Ertel died on November 19, 2015, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, after suddenly collapsing at the age of 78. He was survived by his wife, Catherine, and their two children. A memorial service honoring his life and public service was held at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church in Williamsport on November 28, 2015, reflecting his long-standing ties to his community and his decades of engagement in law, politics, and civic affairs.