The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING WESTON VIVIAN
______
HON. DEBBIE DINGELL
of michigan
in the house of representatives
Friday, July 29, 2022
Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and legacy of Weston Vivian. His contributions to the Ann Arbor community and the nation are worthy of commendation.
Weston was born in Newfoundland in 1924, but grew up in Rhode Island after moving to the United States at the age of five. He enlisted in the Navy V-12 College Training Program, which enabled him to earn his bachelor's degree and master's degree in electrical engineering. After attending Union College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, his education culminated with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1959. While working toward his Ph.D., Weston was involved in many tech start-ups as well as research and lecturing at the University of Michigan. He was also the Chairman of the Ann Arbor City Democratic Committee from 1959 to 1961.
After establishing himself as a dedicated leader within the Ann Arbor community, Weston was the first professional engineer elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1964. Throughout his term, Weston immersed himself in several landmark movements. In February 1965, he traveled to Selma, Alabama with a congressional delegation to meet with Martin Luther King, Jr. Even in just one term, he worked closely with my husband, John Dingell, to pass the Voting Rights Act and the Social Security Amendments, eventually leading to the creation of Medicare and Medicaid.
Weston will be remembered as a dedicated public servant who committed his life to making Michigan a better place. Even after leaving Congress, Weston remained active in bettering his community. He volunteered his time working to advance science and technology, served as a faculty member at the University of Michigan, and served on the Michigan Transportation Commission from 1978 to 1987. He routinely participated in the Ann Arbor Independence Day Parade and Ann Arbor Art Fair, and he spent his free time sailing across the Great Lakes. After moving out of his house and into a senior living center in 2011, his home was converted into the Ann Arbor Area Nature Preserve office--a testament to his appreciation of our great outdoors.
Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the life of Weston Vivian and extending my heartfelt condolences to his surviving family. I am proud to honor his legacy as a talented educator, scientist, and devoted public servant.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 127(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 127(2)
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