Representative Donald Edgar Tewes

Donald Edgar Tewes (August 4, 1916 – August 29, 2012) was an American businessman and Republican politician who served one term as a United States Representative from Wisconsin. A member of the Republican Party, he represented Wisconsin’s 2nd congressional district in the 85th United States Congress from January 3, 1957, to January 3, 1959, contributing to the legislative process during a significant period in American history.

Tewes was born on August 4, 1916, in Merrill, Lincoln County, Wisconsin. He grew up in Wisconsin and was educated in the state’s public schools, an upbringing that rooted him in the concerns and perspectives of Midwestern communities. His early life in Merrill, a small city in north-central Wisconsin, helped shape his understanding of local business, agriculture, and civic affairs, experiences that would later inform his work in both the private sector and public office.

After completing his primary and secondary education, Tewes pursued higher education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. At the university, he studied in an environment known for its strong traditions in public service and civic engagement. His time at Wisconsin provided him with academic training and exposure to public policy debates that would later prove valuable in his political career. Following his university studies, he entered the business world, where he established himself as a businessman before seeking elective office.

Tewes’s professional career was centered in business, and he became active in commercial and civic affairs in Wisconsin. His work in business gave him firsthand experience with economic issues, regulatory concerns, and the practical challenges facing employers and workers. This background contributed to his appeal as a congressional candidate, as he presented himself as someone who understood both the needs of local enterprises and the broader economic context of the postwar United States.

In 1956, Tewes was elected as a Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin’s 2nd congressional district. He took office on January 3, 1957, joining the 85th Congress at a time marked by Cold War tensions, domestic economic growth, and the early stages of the modern civil rights movement. During his term, which lasted until January 3, 1959, he participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of his constituents in southern Wisconsin. As a freshman member of the House, he contributed to legislative deliberations and committee work, aligning with Republican priorities of the era while addressing the specific concerns of his district. His service coincided with debates over federal spending, national defense, and social policy, and he took part in shaping the legislative record of that Congress.

After serving a single term, Tewes left Congress and returned to private life and business pursuits in Wisconsin. Although he did not hold federal office again, his experience as a former member of the House of Representatives and as a businessman kept him engaged with public affairs and community matters. He remained identified with the Republican Party and with the tradition of citizen-legislators who served briefly in Congress before resuming careers outside of government.

Donald Edgar Tewes died on August 29, 2012, in Waukesha, Wisconsin. His life spanned nearly a century of American history, from the First World War era through the early twenty-first century, and included service as a businessman and as a member of the United States House of Representatives for Wisconsin’s 2nd congressional district.