J. Bob Traxler

Jerome Bob Traxler (July 21, 1931 – October 30, 2019), also known as J. Bob Traxler or Bob Traxler, was an American politician from the state of Michigan.

Life and career
Traxler was born in Kawkawlin, Michigan, and attended the public schools in Bay City, including T.L. Handy High School. He received a B.A. from Michigan State College (now Michigan State University) in 1953 and an LL.B. from Detroit College of Law in 1959. He was admitted to the Michigan bar in 1960 and commenced practice in Bay City. While a student at Michigan State, he became a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He served in the United States Army, 1953–1955 and served as assistant Bay County prosecutor, 1960-1962. He was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, 1962–1974, and served as majority floor leader in the Michigan house, 1965-1966. He served on the Michigan State University Board of Trustees from 1993 to 2000. He served on the Mackinac Island State Park Commission from 1992 to 2005.

Following the resignation of Republican James Harvey on January 31, 1974, Traxler was elected as a Democrat on April 16, 1974 to fill the vacancy to the 93rd United States Congress in Michigan's 8th congressional district. He was subsequently re-elected to the nine succeeding Congresses, serving from April 23, 1974 until his retirement from Congress on January 3, 1993. Due to congressional redistricting following the 1990 census, the area represented by Traxler mostly became the 5th district. James A. Barcia was elected to succeed Traxler for the 103rd Congress in the re-drawn 5th congressional district.

Traxler was a resident of Saginaw, Michigan. He had at least one daughter, Sarah, with Mary Richards. He married Jean B. Hose on January 1, 2006.

Traxler died on October 30, 2019.