Harvey L. Wollman
Encyclopedia
Harvey Lowell Wollman was the 26th Governor
of South Dakota
. He was the first Lieutenant Governor
in the history of South Dakota to move into the Governor's office. As of 2009, he is also the most recent Democrat to hold the title of South Dakota governor.
Wollman was born in 1935 in Frankfort, South Dakota
. He graduated from Doland High School in 1953. From 1954 to 1955, he attended Bethel College
at St. Paul, Minnesota. From 1956 to 1957, he attended Huron College before serving in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1960. In 1961, he obtained a B. A. degree from Huron College. From 1961 to 1965, he served as a teacher at Doland High School. In 1965, he completed a graduate work at the University of South Dakota
before becoming a farmer.
Wollman, a Democrat from Hitchcock, South Dakota
, was elected to represent Spink
, Hand
and Hyde
counties in the South Dakota State Senate in 1968 and re-elected in 1970. He was first elected Lt. Governor
in 1974, on a ticket with Governor
Richard F. Kneip
.
On June 6, 1978, Wollman was narrowly defeated by State Senator Roger McKellips in a bid for the Democratic nomination for Governor. However, Wollman was already scheduled to succeed to the governorship on July 24, 1978, when Governor
Kneip
resigned to accept an appointment as United States Ambassador to Singapore.
Wollman was sworn in as governor by his brother, Roger Leland Wollman
, who was serving at the time as Chief Justice of the South Dakota Supreme Court
. The new governor's term lasted a little more than five months, ending on January 1, 1979 when he was succeeded by Republican
Bill Janklow
(who defeated McKellips in the general election).
Wollman's family originates from Russia and is of German descent
. He is a member of the Ebenezer Mennonite Brethren Church (which closed its doors in the mid-1990s).
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...
. He was the first Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
The Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota is the lieutenant governor of the U.S. state of South Dakota.He or she is the second-ranking member of the executive branch of South Dakota state government and also serves as presiding officer of the South Dakota Senate...
in the history of South Dakota to move into the Governor's office. As of 2009, he is also the most recent Democrat to hold the title of South Dakota governor.
Wollman was born in 1935 in Frankfort, South Dakota
Frankfort, South Dakota
Frankfort is a city in Spink County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 149 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Frankfort is located at ....
. He graduated from Doland High School in 1953. From 1954 to 1955, he attended Bethel College
Bethel University (Minnesota)
Bethel University is a Christian higher education institution with approximately 6,000 students from 36 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs...
at St. Paul, Minnesota. From 1956 to 1957, he attended Huron College before serving in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1960. In 1961, he obtained a B. A. degree from Huron College. From 1961 to 1965, he served as a teacher at Doland High School. In 1965, he completed a graduate work at the University of South Dakota
University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota ', the state’s oldest university, was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, United States, USD is home to South Dakota's only medical school and law school. USD is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and its current...
before becoming a farmer.
Wollman, a Democrat from Hitchcock, South Dakota
Hitchcock, South Dakota
Hitchcock is a town in Beadle County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 91 at the 2010 census.Hitchcock co-ops with the nearby town of Tulare for sports, making them the Hitchcock/Tulare Patroits.-Geography:...
, was elected to represent Spink
Spink County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,454 people, 2,847 households, and 1,933 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile . There were 3,352 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
, Hand
Hand County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,741 people, 1,543 households, and 1,050 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile . There were 1,840 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
and Hyde
Hyde County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,671 people, 679 households, and 456 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 769 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
counties in the South Dakota State Senate in 1968 and re-elected in 1970. He was first elected Lt. Governor
Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
The Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota is the lieutenant governor of the U.S. state of South Dakota.He or she is the second-ranking member of the executive branch of South Dakota state government and also serves as presiding officer of the South Dakota Senate...
in 1974, on a ticket with Governor
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....
Richard F. Kneip
Richard F. Kneip
Richard Francis "Dick" Kneip was the 25th Governor of the U.S. state of South Dakota from 1971 until 1978...
.
On June 6, 1978, Wollman was narrowly defeated by State Senator Roger McKellips in a bid for the Democratic nomination for Governor. However, Wollman was already scheduled to succeed to the governorship on July 24, 1978, when Governor
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....
Kneip
Richard F. Kneip
Richard Francis "Dick" Kneip was the 25th Governor of the U.S. state of South Dakota from 1971 until 1978...
resigned to accept an appointment as United States Ambassador to Singapore.
Wollman was sworn in as governor by his brother, Roger Leland Wollman
Roger Leland Wollman
Roger L. Wollman is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. He is the brother of Harvey L. Wollman, former Governor of South Dakota.-Early life and education:...
, who was serving at the time as Chief Justice of the South Dakota Supreme Court
South Dakota Supreme Court
The South Dakota Supreme Court is the highest court in the state of South Dakota. It is composed of a chief justice and four associate justices appointed by governor and selected from five different appointment districts. Justices face a nonpolitical retention election three years after appointment...
. The new governor's term lasted a little more than five months, ending on January 1, 1979 when he was succeeded by Republican
Republican 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...
Bill Janklow
Bill Janklow
William John "Bill" Janklow served as the 25th Attorney General of South Dakota, before being elected as South Dakota's 27th and 30th Governor, as well as to the United States House of Representatives where he served for a little more than a year. A Republican, Janklow's career has continued as a...
(who defeated McKellips in the general election).
Wollman's family originates from Russia and is of German descent
History of Germans in Russia and the Soviet Union
The German minority in Russia and the Soviet Union was created from several sources and in several waves. The 1914 census puts the number of Germans living in Russian Empire at 2,416,290. In 1989, the German population of the Soviet Union was roughly 2 million. In the 2002 Russian census, 597,212...
. He is a member of the Ebenezer Mennonite Brethren Church (which closed its doors in the mid-1990s).