Eugene Atkinson
Eugene Vincent Atkinson was a member of the House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.
Atkinson was born in the Pittsburgh Metro Area city of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh. Atkinson was the director of customs for the port of Pittsburgh from 1962 to 1969. Atkinson then served as the Beaver County commissioner from 1972 to 1978. Atkinson was elected to the House as a member of the Democratic Party.
Atkinson was an early supporter of Jimmy Carter in 1976 but in 1980, Atkinson endorsed Ted Kennedy for President. At rallies for Kennedy, Atkinson praised Kennedy's leadership.
While he was on a radio call-in show in 1981, Atkinson was called by President Ronald Reagan and persuaded to support budget cuts.
On October 14, 1981, Atkinson switched parties, joining the Republican Party. Atkinson lost re-election by a 21 percentage point margin in 1982 to Joseph P. Kolter.
Atkinson died on August 4, 2016 at the age of 89.
