Ben Meier
Encyclopedia
Ben Meier was a North Dakota Republican Party
politician who served as the Secretary of State
of North Dakota
for a record tenure of 34 years from January 1, 1955 to December 31, 1988. This tenure makes him the longest serving state level Secretary of State
in United States
history. Bill Gardner of New Hampshire
, who has served for nearly 31 years and is still serving as of 2007, could surpass Meier's record if he is still in office on December 9, 2010.
on August 1, 1918. He was educated in Logan County
rural schools, and he received his high school education by correspondence. He attended Dakota Business College, and the School of Banking of the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. He worked at banks in Napoleon, Gackle
, and Hazelton
from 1943 until 1950. While working in Hazelton, he was the owner of the bank. He moved to Bismarck
in the early 1950s and worked with insurance, banking, and real estate. He also became involved in state politics when he was first elected as the North Dakota Secretary of State
in 1954. Until his departure from office on December 31, 1988, he served a total of 34 years in the position which made him the longest serving state official in North Dakota's history. This record was later broken by Bruce Hagen, who served 39 years as a North Dakota Public Service Commissioner. His tenure made him the longest serving state level Secretary of State
in United States
history.
He was married to Clara Kaczyinski in 1944, who was a teacher. They had two sons; Lynn, who died while a medical student at the University of North Dakota
in 1974, and Bernie. Meier died in Bismarck on October 2, 1995 at age 77, and his wife Clara is still residing in Bismarck.
North Dakota Republican Party
The North Dakota Republican Party is the North Dakota affiliate of the United States Republican Party. The party platform is generally conservative.The North Dakota Republican Party is strongly in control of the state's politics...
politician who served as the Secretary of State
North Dakota Secretary of State
The North Dakota Secretary of State is an elected office in the U.S. state of North Dakota. The current Secretary of State is Alvin Jaeger. The general duties of the Secretary of State include being the custodian of the state's Great Seal and other official state documents, recording the official...
of North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
for a record tenure of 34 years from January 1, 1955 to December 31, 1988. This tenure makes him the longest serving state level Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
in United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
history. Bill Gardner of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, who has served for nearly 31 years and is still serving as of 2007, could surpass Meier's record if he is still in office on December 9, 2010.
Biography
Ben Meier was born in Napoleon, North DakotaNapoleon, North Dakota
The median household income was $28,167, and the median family income was $36,042. Males had a median income of $28,036 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,208. About 5.9% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those...
on August 1, 1918. He was educated in Logan County
Logan County, North Dakota
-Major highways:* North Dakota Highway 3* North Dakota Highway 13* North Dakota Highway 30* North Dakota Highway 34* North Dakota Highway 56-Demographics:...
rural schools, and he received his high school education by correspondence. He attended Dakota Business College, and the School of Banking of the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. He worked at banks in Napoleon, Gackle
Gackle, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 335 people, 163 households, and 93 families residing in the city. The population density was 617.3 people per square mile . There were 212 housing units at an average density of 390.6 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 99.40% White, and 0.60%...
, and Hazelton
Hazelton, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 237 people, 117 households, and 62 families residing in the city. The population density was 988.5 people per square mile . There were 129 housing units at an average density of 538.0 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 100.00% White...
from 1943 until 1950. While working in Hazelton, he was the owner of the bank. He moved to Bismarck
Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the second most populous city in North Dakota after Fargo. The city's population was 61,272 at the 2010 census, while its metropolitan population was 108,779...
in the early 1950s and worked with insurance, banking, and real estate. He also became involved in state politics when he was first elected as the North Dakota Secretary of State
North Dakota Secretary of State
The North Dakota Secretary of State is an elected office in the U.S. state of North Dakota. The current Secretary of State is Alvin Jaeger. The general duties of the Secretary of State include being the custodian of the state's Great Seal and other official state documents, recording the official...
in 1954. Until his departure from office on December 31, 1988, he served a total of 34 years in the position which made him the longest serving state official in North Dakota's history. This record was later broken by Bruce Hagen, who served 39 years as a North Dakota Public Service Commissioner. His tenure made him the longest serving state level Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
in United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
history.
He was married to Clara Kaczyinski in 1944, who was a teacher. They had two sons; Lynn, who died while a medical student at the University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
in 1974, and Bernie. Meier died in Bismarck on October 2, 1995 at age 77, and his wife Clara is still residing in Bismarck.