Mike O'Callaghan
Encyclopedia
Donal Neil "Mike" O'Callaghan (September 10, 1929 March 5, 2004) was an American
politician
. He was the 23rd Governor of the U.S. state
of Nevada
from 1971 to 1979. He was a member of the Democratic Party
.
, O'Callaghan lied about his age to join the Marines
at 16 and served until 1948. In 1950 he joined the Air Force
and served as an intelligence operator in the Aleutian Islands. He transferred to the Army
in 1952 in order to see combat and lost part of his left leg after being hit by a mortar round during a battle in the Korean War
. He was awarded the Silver Star
and Bronze Star
After his return to the United States
, he became a high school teacher and boxing coach. He was Sen. Harry Reid
's history teacher at Basic High School
in Henderson, Nevada
, and later promoted Reid's political career.
appointed him to head the new Department of Human Resources. In 1964 President Lyndon B. Johnson
appointed O'Callaghan to be the regional director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness.
In 1966, O'Callaghan ran in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor
, but lost. In 1970, he received the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and won a surprising victory in the general election over his Republican opponent, Edward Fike
. He proved to be an extremely popular governor and was reelected in 1974 by a four-to-one margin, the greatest landslide in a gubernatorial election in state history.
The last Nevada governor who was eligible for a third term, he chose not to run in 1978. After he left office he became the executive editor of the Las Vegas Sun
, a job he held until his death. He was also the publisher of the Henderson Home News and Boulder City News
. In the 1990s he monitored elections in Nicaragua
and northern Iraq
, and was a strong supporter of Israel
.
at the age of 74, after collapsing during the morning mass hours at Saint Viator Catholic Church in Las Vegas
, Nevada
.
, spanning the Colorado River
between Nevada and Arizona
, bears O'Callaghan's name as well as that of former NFL
player and Army
veteran Pat Tillman
. The Mike O'Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge was completed in October 2010.
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 was the 23rd Governor of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
from 1971 to 1979. He was a 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...
.
Early life
Born in 1929 in La Crosse, WisconsinLa Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485...
, O'Callaghan lied about his age to join the Marines
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
at 16 and served until 1948. In 1950 he joined the Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
and served as an intelligence operator in the Aleutian Islands. He transferred to the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1952 in order to see combat and lost part of his left leg after being hit by a mortar round during a battle in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. He was awarded the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
and Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
After his return to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he became a high school teacher and boxing coach. He was Sen. Harry Reid
Harry Reid
Harry Mason Reid is the senior United States Senator from Nevada, serving since 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 2007, having previously served as Minority Leader and Minority and Majority Whip.Previously, Reid was a member of the U.S...
's history teacher at Basic High School
Basic High School
Basic High School is a nine-month public high school that is part of the Clark County School District and is located in Henderson, Nevada. It has five "Smaller Learning Communities": Freshman Academy; Institute of Business, Technology, and Mass Communication; Institute of Health, Wellness, and...
in Henderson, Nevada
Henderson, Nevada
-Demographics:According to the 2000 census, there were 175,381 people, 66,331 households, and 47,095 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,200.8 people per square mile . There were 71,149 housing units at an average density of 892.8 per square mile...
, and later promoted Reid's political career.
Political career
O'Callaghan's political career began in 1963, when then-Nevada Governor Grant SawyerGrant Sawyer
Frank Grant Sawyer was an American politician. He was the 21st Governor of Nevada from 1959 to 1967. He was a member of the Democratic Party....
appointed him to head the new Department of Human Resources. In 1964 President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
appointed O'Callaghan to be the regional director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness.
In 1966, O'Callaghan ran in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor
Lieutenant Governor of Nevada
The Nevada Lieutenant Governor is an elected office in the U.S. state of Nevada. The Nevada Lieutenant Governor is based in Carson City, Nevada and elected for 4 year terms. The 33rd and current Lt. Governor for the 2007-2011 term is Brian Krolicki....
, but lost. In 1970, he received the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and won a surprising victory in the general election over his Republican opponent, Edward Fike
Edward Fike
Merlin Edward Fike is an American politician. He was the Lieutenant Governor of Nevada from 1967 to 1971.-External links:...
. He proved to be an extremely popular governor and was reelected in 1974 by a four-to-one margin, the greatest landslide in a gubernatorial election in state history.
The last Nevada governor who was eligible for a third term, he chose not to run in 1978. After he left office he became the executive editor of the Las Vegas Sun
Las Vegas Sun
The Las Vegas Sun is a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper. It is one of Las Vegas, Nevada's two daily newspapers. It is owned by the Greenspun family and is affiliated with Greenspun Media Group....
, a job he held until his death. He was also the publisher of the Henderson Home News and Boulder City News
Boulder City News
Boulder City News was a weekly newspaper distributed in Boulder City, Nevada. The paper was first published in 1937. When it ceased publication, the paper was published by the Greenspun Media Group. The paper was focused on the community of Boulder City including the local sports, news and events...
. In the 1990s he monitored elections in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
and northern Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, and was a strong supporter of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
Death
O'Callaghan died on March 5, 2004, of a heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at the age of 74, after collapsing during the morning mass hours at Saint Viator Catholic Church in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
.
Legacy
O'Callaghan's legacy as Nevada politician and philanthropist survives through three structures that bear his name.Mike O'Callaghan Middle School opened on the east side of Las Vegas in 1991. The Mike O'Callaghan Federal Hospital is located on Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas. A bridge that is a part of the highway bypass around the Hoover DamHoover Dam
Hoover Dam, once known as Boulder Dam, is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the US states of Arizona and Nevada. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression and was dedicated on September 30, 1935, by President...
, spanning the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
between Nevada and Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, bears O'Callaghan's name as well as that of former NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
player and Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
veteran Pat Tillman
Pat Tillman
Corporal Patrick Daniel "Pat" Tillman Jr. was an American football player who left his professional career and enlisted in the United States Army in June 2002 in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks. He joined the Army Rangers and served several tours in combat before he died in the...
. The Mike O'Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge was completed in October 2010.