Norman Clapp, former owner and publisher of the Grant County Independent and Muscoda Progressive, was born in Ellsworth, Wis., in 1915.
Clapp spent four decades in public service in Wisconsin and Washington D.C. His accomplishments include a presidential appointment by John F. Kennedy to the office of administrator of the Rural Electrification Administration.
He also served as chairman of Wisconsin’s Public Service Commission during the 1970s, was state transportation secretary and the director of legislative operations for the Cooperative League of the USA.
He first purchased the Grant County Independent in 1944 after working as an aide and campaign manager for U.S. Sen. Robert La Follette. Clapp later entered into a partnership at the Muscoda Progressive, but sold both newspapers in 1958 so he could run for public office.
Clapp ran unsuccessful bids for U.S. Congress in 1956, 1958 and 1960.
On Oct. 7, 1998, Clapp died of natural causes in Clearwater, Fla. He was 83 years old.
