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Paul Todd Jr.

November 18, 2008
Kalamazoo, MI

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Paul H. Todd, Jr., former U.S. Representative and founder of Kalsec, Inc, died early Tuesday morning. He was 87 years old. Born September 22, 1921 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Todd received his B.S. at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York in 1942. He then attended Kalamazoo College in 1942. After serving in the United States Army Signal Corps and the Office of Strategic Services between 1942 and 1945, for which he was awarded the Soldier's Medal for Heroism and the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service, he was in a PhD program in Economics at the University of Chicago until he and his wife, Terry, returned to Kalamazoo and he joined his father at Farmers' Chemical Company, which became KALSEC Inc. in 1956 under Paul's leadership. Todd, a Democrat, was elected as a U.S. Representative to the 89th Congress and served between 1965 and 1967. He was the first Democrat elected from this district since his grandfather, A.M. Todd, was elected in 1896. A staunch proponent of family planning, Todd authored the "Todd Amendment" to the Food for Peace Bill, a bill which made U.S. agricultural products available at discounted prices to nations in need. This amendment allowed the payments received from these nations to be returned to them in the form of family planning services. Todd first saw the consequences of overpopulation during his service in China with the OSS and remained a staunch family planning advocate until his death. He served as CEO of Planned Parenthood-World Population (now the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.) from 1967 to 1970, and joined the Board of Directors at Pathfinder International in 1987, serving as Board Chair from 1998 to 2001, then as an Emeritus Director. Todd was appointed by Governor William G. Milliken to the Governor's Commission on Ethics where he served from 1972 to 1976. Todd served as a Trustee of Kalamazoo College from 1973 to 1985, as Chair of the board from 1979 to 1985, and received an Honorary Doctorate from the college in 1995. Todd also served on the Board of Trustees of Deep Springs College in Big Pine, California, from 1976 to 1984 and was Board Chair from 1982 to 1984. Todd served on the Board of the W.E. Upjohn Institute from 1981 until the time of his death and was a member of the Outlook Club in Kalamazoo. Paul Todd was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth "Terry" Todd; his sons, Charles H. Todd and Paul A. Todd; and his brother, Tom. He is survived by his wife, Caroline Ham; son and daughter-in-law, George and Clara Todd also of Kalamazoo; daughter, Liz Todd of Boulder, Colorado; daughter-in-law, Laura Todd of Hailey, Idaho; four grandchildren, Sarah Todd (Boone Shear), Martha Todd, Nathan Johansing, and Kacey Johansing; and great-grand-children, Edith Todd and Rose Todd Shear. Date of service has not been set. In lieu of flowers, donations would be welcome at a charity of your choice. Arrangements by Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel,

622 S. Burdick.