Archie M. Gubbrud
Encyclopedia
Archie M. Gubbrud was the 22nd Governor
of South Dakota
.
. He was one of four children born to Torval Marius and Ella (Rommeriam) Gubbrud. From 1911 to 1914, Gubbrud's grandfather Andrew Rommeriam had served in the South Dakota House of Representatives and had been a friend of South Dakota governor Peter Norbeck
. In 1929, Gubbrud graduated from Augustana Academy
in Canton, South Dakota
. After the death of his father in 1934, Gubbrud became responsible for the Gubbrud family farm and was quite successful at farming.
. In 1951, he won the Mississippi Valley Association Soil Conservation Award for South Dakota. He became Speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives 1959-1960, and was also the Chairman of the Legislative Research Council Executive Board at the same time.
In 1960, Gubbrud ran for Governor of South Dakota
, beating the incumbent, Ralph Herseth
, by only 4,435 votes. In 1962, Gubbrud was elected for a second term when he beat Ralph Herseth
by 31,000 votes. During his tenure he doubled aid to education. The Custer State Hospital and state budget office were also started with his recommendation. In 1965, Gubbrud left office and returned to the Gubbrud family farm seven and a half miles northeast of Alcester, South Dakota
. In 1968, Gubbrud reluctantly ran for the office of United States Senator after being urged to do so by the Republicans but was beat by the incumbent, Senator George McGovern
.
In 1969, President Richard Nixon
appointed Gubbrud as state director of the Farmers Home Administration
, and, Gubbrud held that position until 1977. He returned to the Gubbrud farm and remained there until the time of his death from lung cancer (he died at McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
, aged 76. He was interred in Lands Lutheran Church cemetery.
Governor of South Dakota
The Governor of South Dakota is the head of the executive branch of the government of South Dakota. They are elected to a four year term on even years when there is no Presidential election. The current governor is Dennis Daugaard, a Republican elected in 2010....
of South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
.
Background
Archie M. Gubbrud was born in Norway Township in Lincoln County, South DakotaLincoln County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 24,131 people, 8,782 households, and 6,665 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 people per square mile . There were 9,131 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
. He was one of four children born to Torval Marius and Ella (Rommeriam) Gubbrud. From 1911 to 1914, Gubbrud's grandfather Andrew Rommeriam had served in the South Dakota House of Representatives and had been a friend of South Dakota governor Peter Norbeck
Peter Norbeck
Peter Norbeck served as the ninth Governor of South Dakota, and as a United States Senator. Norbeck was the first Governor of South Dakota to have been born within the borders of the state.-Biography:...
. In 1929, Gubbrud graduated from Augustana Academy
Augustana Academy
Augustana Academy was an educational institution in Canton, South Dakota.The Norwegian Augustana Synod was established in 1870. In that year, the Synod began an academy called the Marshall Academy in Marshall, Wisconsin. In 1881, the academy was moved to Beloit, Iowa. In 1884 Augustana College...
in Canton, South Dakota
Canton, South Dakota
Canton is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, South Dakota, United States. The city was named by Norwegian settler and former legislator James M. Wahl...
. After the death of his father in 1934, Gubbrud became responsible for the Gubbrud family farm and was quite successful at farming.
Career
His political career started that same year when he became Norway Township clerk. From 1947 to 1952, Gubbrud served as chairman of Elmwood School. In 1948, he was the Lincoln County delegate to the South Dakota state Republican convention. In 1950, Gubbrud was elected to the South Dakota House of RepresentativesSouth Dakota House of Representatives
The South Dakota House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Dakota State Legislature. It is made up of 70 members, two from each legislative district...
. In 1951, he won the Mississippi Valley Association Soil Conservation Award for South Dakota. He became Speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives 1959-1960, and was also the Chairman of the Legislative Research Council Executive Board at the same time.
In 1960, Gubbrud ran for Governor of South Dakota
Governor of South Dakota
The Governor of South Dakota is the head of the executive branch of the government of South Dakota. They are elected to a four year term on even years when there is no Presidential election. The current governor is Dennis Daugaard, a Republican elected in 2010....
, beating the incumbent, Ralph Herseth
Ralph Herseth
Ralph E. Herseth was the 21st Governor of South Dakota from January 6, 1959 to January 3, 1961.-Background:Herseth was born in Houghton, South Dakota. to Lars Herseth and Oline Afseth Herseth. He graduated from Columbia High School, in Brown County, South Dakota. He attended Northern State...
, by only 4,435 votes. In 1962, Gubbrud was elected for a second term when he beat Ralph Herseth
Ralph Herseth
Ralph E. Herseth was the 21st Governor of South Dakota from January 6, 1959 to January 3, 1961.-Background:Herseth was born in Houghton, South Dakota. to Lars Herseth and Oline Afseth Herseth. He graduated from Columbia High School, in Brown County, South Dakota. He attended Northern State...
by 31,000 votes. During his tenure he doubled aid to education. The Custer State Hospital and state budget office were also started with his recommendation. In 1965, Gubbrud left office and returned to the Gubbrud family farm seven and a half miles northeast of Alcester, South Dakota
Alcester, South Dakota
Alcester is a city in Union County, South Dakota, United States. It is part of the Sioux City, IA–NE–SD Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 807 at the 2010 census.- History :...
. In 1968, Gubbrud reluctantly ran for the office of United States Senator after being urged to do so by the Republicans but was beat by the incumbent, Senator George McGovern
George McGovern
George Stanley McGovern is an historian, author, and former U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the Democratic Party nominee in the 1972 presidential election....
.
In 1969, President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
appointed Gubbrud as state director of the Farmers Home Administration
Farmers Home Administration
In 1946 Farmers Home Administration replaced the Farm Security Administration which superseded the Resettlement Administration. Its mission and programs involved extending credit for agriculture and rural development. Direct and guaranteed credit went to individual farmers, low-income families,...
, and, Gubbrud held that position until 1977. He returned to the Gubbrud farm and remained there until the time of his death from lung cancer (he died at McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
, aged 76. He was interred in Lands Lutheran Church cemetery.
Other sources
- Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 3 (Westport, Conn.; Meckler Books, 4 vols. 1978)