Ron Marlenee

Ronald Charles "Ron" Marlenee (born August 8, 1935) is a Republican politician who served in the United States House of Representatives from the U.S. state of Montana from January 3, 1977 to January 3, 1993. He represented Montana's 2nd congressional district.

He was born in Scobey, Montana.He was educated in the public schools of Daniels County, and attended Montana State University in Bozeman, the University of Montana in Missoula, and the Reisch School of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa. He now resides in Bozeman with his wife, Cindy.

Marlenee was an auctioneer, farmer and rancher.He was active in politics as a Republican, and held several party posts in Daniels County.From 1975 to 1976 he was the Second Congressional District's member of the Montana Republican Committee's executive board.In 1976 he was elected to the Ninety-fifth Congress.He was reelected seven times, and served from January 3, 1977 to January 3, 1993.Environmentalists were unhappy with Marlenee's voting record, and in 1992 he was named by Environmental Action as one of Congress' "Dirty Dozen."

After the 1990 Census, Montana's declining population resulted in the state being cut back to a single district. Marlenee ran against Democrat Pat Williams, the former representative for the 1st district, and lost.

Ron continues to be an active voice in Republican politics on the local and national level. As a close friend of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, his legacy in Republican politics is reminiscent of the mid to late-20th century. Today, he is well-known for hosting or participating in fundraising events for Montana Republican campaigns.