Joseph P. Teasdale
Encyclopedia
Joseph Patrick Teasdale is an American
politician
. He served as the 48th Governor of Missouri from 1977 to 1981. He is member of the Democratic Party
.
Teasdale was born in Kansas City, Missouri
. He graduated from Rockhurst High School
, attended St. Benedict's College and earned an undergraduate degree from Rockhurst University
, and a law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law
.
Teasdale is in the Rockhurst High School
Athletic Hall of Fame in recognition of his standout multi-sport athletic career in high school. He is married to the former Theresa Ferkenhoff, and has three sons, Bill, John, and Kevin. His middle son, John, was a offensive tackle at the University of Notre Dame
.
From 1962 to 1966, he served as Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. From 1966 to 1972, he served as Prosecuting Attorney for Jackson County, Missouri
and was the youngest person to hold that post. Teasdale was defeated in the 1972 Democratic gubernatorial primary. In the 1976 election, Teasdale captured his party's nomination and, in a surprising upset, defeated incumbent Kit Bond
in the general election. During his gubernatorial campaign, Teasdale traversed the state of Missouri on foot, earning the nickname "Walkin' Joe Teasdale." It is thought that Teasdale appropriated the device from Florida Governor "Walkin' Lawton Chiles
."
Four years later, he fended off a primary election challenge from then-State Treasurer Jim Spainhower
, but was defeated in the 1980 general election in a rematch with Bond.
Following his tenure as Governor, he moved back to Kansas City, where he is a private attorney.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He served as the 48th Governor of Missouri from 1977 to 1981. He is member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Teasdale was born in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. He graduated from Rockhurst High School
Rockhurst High School
Rockhurst High School is a private, Roman Catholic, Jesuit, preparatory school for boys located in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, on the Missouri-Kansas border along State Line Road....
, attended St. Benedict's College and earned an undergraduate degree from Rockhurst University
Rockhurst University
Rockhurst University is a private, coeducational Jesuit university located in Kansas City, Missouri, founded in 1910 as Rockhurst College. The school adheres to the motto etched into the stone of the campus bell tower: "Learning, Leadership, and Service in the Jesuit Tradition." It is one of 28...
, and a law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law
Saint Louis University School of Law
Saint Louis University School of Law , also known as SLU LAW, is a private American law school located in St. Louis, Missouri. It is one of the professional graduate schools of Saint Louis University. Opened in 1843, it is the first law school west of the Mississippi River. The school has been ABA...
.
Teasdale is in the Rockhurst High School
Rockhurst High School
Rockhurst High School is a private, Roman Catholic, Jesuit, preparatory school for boys located in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, on the Missouri-Kansas border along State Line Road....
Athletic Hall of Fame in recognition of his standout multi-sport athletic career in high school. He is married to the former Theresa Ferkenhoff, and has three sons, Bill, John, and Kevin. His middle son, John, was a offensive tackle at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
.
From 1962 to 1966, he served as Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. From 1966 to 1972, he served as Prosecuting Attorney for Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. With a population of 674,158 in the 2010 census, Jackson County is the second most populous of Missouri's counties, after St. Louis County. Kansas City, the state's most populous city and focus city of the Kansas City Metropolitan...
and was the youngest person to hold that post. Teasdale was defeated in the 1972 Democratic gubernatorial primary. In the 1976 election, Teasdale captured his party's nomination and, in a surprising upset, defeated incumbent Kit Bond
Kit Bond
Christopher Samuel "Kit" Bond is a former United States Senator from Missouri and a member of the Republican Party. First elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986, he defeated Democrat Harriett Woods by a margin of 53%-47%. He was re-elected in 1992, 1998, and 2004...
in the general election. During his gubernatorial campaign, Teasdale traversed the state of Missouri on foot, earning the nickname "Walkin' Joe Teasdale." It is thought that Teasdale appropriated the device from Florida Governor "Walkin' Lawton Chiles
Lawton Chiles
Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. was an American politician from the US state of Florida. In a career spanning four decades, Chiles, a Democrat who never lost an election, served in the Florida House of Representatives , the Florida State Senate , the United States Senate , and as the 41st Governor of...
."
Four years later, he fended off a primary election challenge from then-State Treasurer Jim Spainhower
Jim Spainhower
James "Jim" Spainhower is a U.S. Democratic politician from Missouri. He served four terms in the Missouri House of Representatives and two terms as the Missouri State Treasurer.-Early life:...
, but was defeated in the 1980 general election in a rematch with Bond.
Following his tenure as Governor, he moved back to Kansas City, where he is a private attorney.