Congressman Bruce Alger, age 96, died peacefully on Monday, April 13th, at Bethesda Assisted Living Facility in Palm Bay, Florida.

A native of Dallas, Texas, and the son of David Bruce Alger and Clare Fleeman Alger, he grew up in Webster Groves, Missouri. At 15yo, his 9yo sister, Marion, died in a tragic dance recital fire. He attended Princeton University (Class of '40) on an academic scholarship, supplemented by waiting tables. He played varsity football and was Manager of the Quadrangle Club.

After graduation, he went to work for RCA to demonstrate the newly introduced television at the World's Fair in New York City. He enlisted in the US Army Air Corp and was Captain of a B-29, stationed on Tinian Island and logged 23 bombing missions over Japan. His plane, Miss American '62, was later restored, and dedicated in 1994 (50 years after WWII) at Travis Air Force Base Museum, where it now resides.

After the war, he returned to his new bride, Linda Lucille Antoine, and their young daughter in Dallas, followed by the arrival of two sons several years later. While serving in the military, he was accepted into Harvard Law School, but due to family responsibilities he declined and started his own Real Estate Company in Casa Linda, developing Alger Park. He was active in the community and held offices in The Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Bonehead Club, and was a Mason.

He was elected to the US Congress in 1954, as the first Republican since Reconstruction. He served on the House Ways and Means Committee and headed up the Congressional Prayer Breakfast Group. Dallas County's 5th Congressional District was the largest in Congress with over a million people, which he represented for 10 years, including when President Kennedy was assassinated.

Following his defeat in 1964, he moved to Florida, and resumed his work in real estate. In 1976, he married Priscilla Jones from Chatham, MA. They returned to Dallas and he went into finance. They were active in church ministries and his lifelong athletic passion prompted daily racket ball matches, earning him the senior champion title.

After retirement, they sold their home and traveled the country for 10 years in their RV. In 2000, they settled in Barefoot Bay on the East Coast of Florida, and became active in their local church. In 2013, he published "The Crew Book," outlining the 23 bombing missions his crew survived during WWII, which he had written in a daily journal while in the service. His wife's passed away in 2012, and he went into Assisted Living for the final 18 months of his life.

He is survived by his daughter, Jill Alger of The Villages, FL, daughter-in-law, Carol Alger of Boone, NC, stepson, Robert Jones of Amhurst, MA, stepdaughter, Laura Jones of Chatham, MA, seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister, wife, and two sons, David Bruce Alger and Steven Van Alger.

Burial Services will be held later in the year at Arlington National Cemetery, where his remains will join his young son, David, who died in 1964 while he was in Congress.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to the Dallas Theological Seminary, 3909 Swiss Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75204.