Born in Ferndale, California, Don Clausen and serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1963 to 1983, died February 7, 2015. He was born April 27, 1923 and graduated from Ferndale elementary and high schools, enrolling in the Naval Aviation Cadet program at St. Mary’s College after the U.S. entered World War II, going on to serve as a 4FU Corsair pilot in the Pacific theater.
Following the war, he served as a member of the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors from 1955 to 1962. During that time, Don started a flight school and ambulance/charter service at the Del Norte County Airport, where the terminal still bears his name, as well as an aviation program at Del Norte High School.
While in congress, he served on the Public Works and Transportation and the Insular Affairs committees. His work Congressional included creating the Redwood National Park in 1968, and later expanding it in 1978, securing funding for both the Klamath and Eel rivers, creating the King Range National Recreation Area, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and establishing the 200-mile off-shore fishing limit.
After Don left congress, President Ronald Regan appointed him to the Department of Transportation where he worked as the Director of Special Projects with the Federal Aviation Administration, remaining there until 1990, and moving to Fortuna shortly afterwards.
Don was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Jessie. He’s survived by daughters Dawn Marie Baumbartner of Ferndale and Bev Mendenhall of Kenne, Texas.
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