George T. Mickelson
Encyclopedia
George Theodore Mickelson (July 23, 1903 – February 28, 1965) was the 18th Governor
of South Dakota
, and later a United States federal judge
.
in Walworth County, South Dakota
. His father was a Norwegian immigrant. Mickelson was the first Governor of South Dakota born in the twentieth century. Mickelson attended Dakota Wesleyan University
and then received an LL.B. from the University of South Dakota School of Law
in 1927. That year he returned to Selby to practice law. He married Madge Turner and they had four children.
, served as states attorney for Walworth County, South Dakota
from 1933 to 1936. He served in the South Dakota House of Representatives
from 1937–1943 and was Speaker of the House in his last term. He then served as South Dakota Attorney General
from 1943 to 1947. He became Governor of South Dakota in 1947, and served until 1951.
Mickelson ran as favorite-son candidate in 1952 South Dakota presidential primary, supporting a national bid of Dwight D. Eisenhower
, and lost narrowly to Eisenhower chief rival, Senator Robert Taft
of Ohio
http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=35875.
On December 9, 1953, Mickelson received a recess appointment
from President Eisenhower to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
vacated by Alfred Lee Wyman
. Formally nominated on January 11, 1954, Mickelson was confirmed by the United States Senate
on February 9, 1954, and received his commission the following day. He served as chief judge of the court from 1954 until his death in 1965.
Mickelson's son, George S. Mickelson
, served as Governor of South Dakota
from 1987 to 1993. They are the only father and son pair to hold that office in the history 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....
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...
, and later a United States federal judge
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Background
George T. Mickelson was born near SelbySelby, South Dakota
Selby is a city in Walworth County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 642 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Walworth County.-Geography:Selby is located at ....
in Walworth County, South Dakota
Walworth County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,974 people, 2,506 households, and 1,643 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile . There were 3,144 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...
. His father was a Norwegian immigrant. Mickelson was the first Governor of South Dakota born in the twentieth century. Mickelson attended Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University is a four-year university located in Mitchell, South Dakota, founded in 1885, that is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The student body averages slightly less than 800 students...
and then received an LL.B. from the University of South Dakota School of Law
University of South Dakota School of Law
The University of South Dakota School of Law is the law school of the University of South Dakota and the only law school in the state of South Dakota. It is located on the USD campus in Vermillion in the southeastern part of the state, near the Missouri River and the Iowa and Nebraska borders...
in 1927. That year he returned to Selby to practice law. He married Madge Turner and they had four children.
Career
Prior to serving as governor, Mickelson, a RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, served as states attorney for Walworth County, South Dakota
Walworth County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,974 people, 2,506 households, and 1,643 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile . There were 3,144 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...
from 1933 to 1936. He served in the South Dakota House of Representatives
South 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...
from 1937–1943 and was Speaker of the House in his last term. He then served as South Dakota Attorney General
South Dakota Attorney General
The Attorney General of South Dakota is an elected office that assists local law enforcement agencies in the state of South Dakota, provides legal representation for state agencies, and enforces consumer protection laws. The current attorney general is Marty Jackley.-External links:*...
from 1943 to 1947. He became Governor of South Dakota in 1947, and served until 1951.
Mickelson ran as favorite-son candidate in 1952 South Dakota presidential primary, supporting a national bid of Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
, and lost narrowly to Eisenhower chief rival, Senator Robert Taft
Robert Taft
Robert Alphonso Taft , of the Taft political family of Cincinnati, was a Republican United States Senator and a prominent conservative statesman...
of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=35875.
On December 9, 1953, Mickelson received a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
from President Eisenhower to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
The United States District Court for the District of South Dakota is the United States District Court or the Federal district court, whose jurisdiction for issues pertaining to federal law or diversity for the state of South Dakota. The court is based in Sioux Falls with other courthouses in...
vacated by Alfred Lee Wyman
Alfred Lee Wyman
Alfred Lee Wyman was a United States federal judge.Born in Yankton, South Dakota, Wyman read law in 1896 to enter the Bar, and was in private practice in Yankton intermittently from 1896 until 1929. He was a State's attorney of Yankton County from 1905 to 1908 and again from 1915 to 1918. He was...
. Formally nominated on January 11, 1954, Mickelson was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on February 9, 1954, and received his commission the following day. He served as chief judge of the court from 1954 until his death in 1965.
Mickelson's son, George S. Mickelson
George S. Mickelson
George Speaker Mickelson was an American politician from the U.S. state of South Dakota. Mickelson, a Republican, served as the 28th Governor of South Dakota from January 6, 1987 until his death in a plane crash in 1993. His father, George T. Mickelson, was also a governor of South Dakota,...
, served as 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....
from 1987 to 1993. They are the only father and son pair to hold that office in the history of South Dakota.
Other sources
- The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Vol. 50 (New York: James T. White & Company)