Biography

11/21/1944 - 08/29/2019

GEIST, Richard Allen, a Representative from Blair County; born in Altoona, Blair County, Pa., November 21, 1944; graduated, Altoona Area High School, 1962; A.S., drafting/design technology, The Pennsylvania State University, 1965; Kellogg Fellowship and Public Affairs Leadership Program; consulting engineer (12 years); member, Blair County Republican Committee; elected as a Republican to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 1979 term; reelected to 15 more consecutive terms; elected, Minority Caucus Chair (1993-1994); appointed, Pennsylvania MILRITE Council (1981-1992); appointed, chair, High Speed Intercity Rail Passenger Commission (1985-1986); appointed, Special Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Flooding of the Monongahela River Basin (1986); appointed, Joint State Government Commission (1993-1994); appointed, chair, Select Committee on Toll Roads (2004-2005); unsuccessful campaign for reelection to the House (2012); elected, delegate, Republican National Convention (2004, 2012); proprietor, Richard A. Geist Consulting (2013-2019); died, August 29, 2019 in Russia; interred, Alto Reste Burial Park, Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania.