Scott M. Matheson
Encyclopedia
Scott Milne Matheson was the 12th Governor of Utah from 1977 to 1985. He is currently the last Democrat
to serve in that position.
Matheson was born on January 8, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois to LDS parents Scott Milne and Adele Adams Matheson. Soon after his birth, the family moved to Utah
, settling first in Parowan
, before moving to Salt Lake City
, when his father became a federal prosecutor.
Matheson graduated from Salt Lake City's East High School in 1946, earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Utah
in 1950, and a law degree from Stanford University
in 1952. He operated a private law practice in Iron County, Utah
for five years before taking a position with Union Pacific Railroad
in 1958. At the railroad he rose to the position of general counsel
before making his 1976 run for governor.
During his term as governor, Matheson was named defendant in the U.S. Supreme Court
case of H. L. v. Matheson
.
On 25 August 1951 he married Norma Louise Warenski, and the couple had four children. One is U.S. Congressman Jim Matheson
. Another son, Scott Matheson, Jr.
, was the 2004 Democratic nominee for Governor of Utah, and is currently a federal Judge.
Governor Matheson died of multiple myeloma
, a rare form of cancer
, and was buried in Parowan City Cemetery in Parowan, Utah.
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...
to serve in that position.
Matheson was born on January 8, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois to LDS parents Scott Milne and Adele Adams Matheson. Soon after his birth, the family moved to Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, settling first in Parowan
Parowan, Utah
Parowan is a city in and the county seat of Iron County, Utah, United States. The population was 2,790 at the 2010 census.Parowan became the first incorporated city in Iron County in 1851. A fort that had been constructed on the east side of Center Creek the previous year was an initial in the...
, before moving to Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, when his father became a federal prosecutor.
Matheson graduated from Salt Lake City's East High School in 1946, earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
in 1950, and a law degree from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1952. He operated a private law practice in Iron County, Utah
Iron County, Utah
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,779 people, 10,627 households, and 8,076 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 13,618 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...
for five years before taking a position with Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
in 1958. At the railroad he rose to the position of general counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
before making his 1976 run for governor.
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
case of H. L. v. Matheson
H. L. v. Matheson
H. L. v. Matheson, 450 U.S. 398 was a United States Supreme Court abortion rights case, according to which a state may require a doctor to inform a teenaged girl's parents before performing an abortion or face criminal penalty.-External links:*...
.
On 25 August 1951 he married Norma Louise Warenski, and the couple had four children. One is U.S. Congressman Jim Matheson
Jim Matheson
James David "Jim" Matheson is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes eastern Salt Lake City....
. Another son, Scott Matheson, Jr.
Scott Matheson, Jr.
Scott Milne Matheson, Jr. was the U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah from 1993 to 1997 and is a current federal Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He is the son of former Governor of Utah Scott M...
, was the 2004 Democratic nominee for Governor of Utah, and is currently a federal Judge.
Governor Matheson died of multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma , also known as plasma cell myeloma or Kahler's disease , is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for the production of antibodies...
, a rare form of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, and was buried in Parowan City Cemetery in Parowan, Utah.