Sigurd Anderson
Encyclopedia
Sigurd Anderson was the 19th Governor
of South Dakota
. Anderson, a Republican
from Webster, South Dakota
, served in that office from 1951 to 1955.
, in the county of Aust-Agder
, Norway
and came to the United States at age of three with his family to settle in Lincoln County, South Dakota
. He graduated from the Canton Lutheran Normal
, Canton, South Dakota
, and enrolled at South Dakota State College
. During his first school year, he suffered from scarlet fever, which prevented his return to college the following fall. In order to secure funds to continue his education, he worked as a farm hand and taught rural school in Kingsbury County, South Dakota
. In 1928, Anderson enrolled at the University of South Dakota
, and graduated in 1931 with cum laude honors and a B.A. degree and then with an LL.B degree. In 1937 he married Vivian Walz of Vermillion, South Dakota
and began practicing law in Webster. Their daughter, Kristin Karen, was born during Anderson's administration.
state's attorney and as an assistant attorney general in the state capital, Pierre
. Before he was elected governor he served two terms as South Dakota Attorney General
, 1947-1951.
His re-election in 1952 marked the first time a candidate for South Dakota governor received more than 200,000 votes in a general election. This was not accomplished again until Mike Rounds
' reelection in 2006, over fifty years later. It was during Anderson's administration that the Legislative Research Council was established. It was also during this time that the state had a debt-free status—the first time in 40 years.
After his service as governor, he served as a commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission
.
In 1964, Anderson once again announced his candidacy for governor, but lost the GOP gubernatorial primary to Nils Boe
, who won the general election. Boe appointed Anderson to fill a vacancy as a circuit judge. Anderson retired as a circuit judge in 1975.
Sigurd received dozens of professional and political honors and was a member of numerous organizations. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, Masonic Lodge
and affiliated bodies, Phi Beta Kappa Fraternity, Delta Theta Phi
Fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha
Fraternity, Veterans of Foreign Wars
and many others. The Sigurd Anderson airport in Webster, South Dakota is named in his honor.
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...
. Anderson, a 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...
from Webster, South Dakota
Webster, South Dakota
Webster is a city in and the county seat of Day County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,886 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Webster is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, served in that office from 1951 to 1955.
Background
He was born in ArendalArendal
is a town and municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. Arendal belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet.The town of Arendal is the administrative center the municipality and also of Aust-Agder county...
, in the county of Aust-Agder
Aust-Agder
is a county in Norway, bordering Telemark, Rogaland, and Vest-Agder. In 2002, there were 102,945 inhabitants, which is 2.2% of the total population in Norway. Its area is . The administrative center of the county is in Arendal....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and came to the United States at age of three with his family to settle in Lincoln County, South Dakota
Lincoln County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 24,131 people, 8,782 households, and 6,665 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 people per square mile . There were 9,131 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
. He graduated from the Canton Lutheran Normal
Augustana College (South Dakota)
Augustana College is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. The campus makes the school the largest private university in South Dakota...
, Canton, South Dakota
Canton, South Dakota
Canton is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, South Dakota, United States. The city was named by Norwegian settler and former legislator James M. Wahl...
, and enrolled at South Dakota State College
South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University is the largest university in the U.S. state of South Dakota, located in Brookings. A public land-grant university and sun grant college, founded under the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act, SDSU offers programs of study required by, or harmonious to, this Act...
. During his first school year, he suffered from scarlet fever, which prevented his return to college the following fall. In order to secure funds to continue his education, he worked as a farm hand and taught rural school in Kingsbury County, South Dakota
Kingsbury County, South Dakota
Kingsbury County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,148. It's county seat is De Smet. It was named for two brothers, George W. and T. A. Kingsbury, who were prominently involved in the affairs of Dakota Territory and members of...
. In 1928, Anderson enrolled 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...
, and graduated in 1931 with cum laude honors and a B.A. degree and then with an LL.B degree. In 1937 he married Vivian Walz of Vermillion, South Dakota
Vermillion, South Dakota
Vermillion is a city in and the county seat of Clay County, in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the tenth largest city in the state. According to the 2010 Census, the population was 10,571. Vermillion lies atop a bluff near the Missouri River.The area has been home to...
and began practicing law in Webster. Their daughter, Kristin Karen, was born during Anderson's administration.
Political career
He twice served as Day CountyDay County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,267 people, 2,586 households, and 1,688 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile . There were 3,618 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...
state's attorney and as an assistant attorney general in the state capital, Pierre
Pierre, South Dakota
Pierre is the capital of the U.S. state of South Dakota and the county seat of Hughes County. The population was 13,646 at the 2010 census, making it the second least populous state capital after Montpelier, Vermont...
. Before he was elected governor he served two terms 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:*...
, 1947-1951.
His re-election in 1952 marked the first time a candidate for South Dakota governor received more than 200,000 votes in a general election. This was not accomplished again until Mike Rounds
Mike Rounds
Marion Michael "Mike" Rounds is an American politician. Rounds served as the 31st Governor of South Dakota. Rounds was first inaugurated on January 7, 2003, having been elected on November 5, 2002, and was re-elected on November 7, 2006...
' reelection in 2006, over fifty years later. It was during Anderson's administration that the Legislative Research Council was established. It was also during this time that the state had a debt-free status—the first time in 40 years.
After his service as governor, he served as a commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
.
In 1964, Anderson once again announced his candidacy for governor, but lost the GOP gubernatorial primary to Nils Boe
Nils Boe
Nils Andreas Boe was an American politician who served as the 23rd Governor of South Dakota from 1965 to 1969.-Background:...
, who won the general election. Boe appointed Anderson to fill a vacancy as a circuit judge. Anderson retired as a circuit judge in 1975.
Sigurd received dozens of professional and political honors and was a member of numerous organizations. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, Masonic Lodge
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
and affiliated bodies, Phi Beta Kappa Fraternity, Delta Theta Phi
Delta Theta Phi
Delta Theta Phi is a professional law fraternity and a member of the Professional Fraternity Association. The smallest of the three internationally recognized law fraternities , Delta Theta Phi is the only one of the three major law fraternities to charter chapters in the United States at...
Fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men's secret general fraternities in North America, having initiated more than 280,000 members and held chapters at more than 300 universities. It is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a...
Fraternity, Veterans of Foreign Wars
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a congressionally chartered war veterans organization in the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, VFW currently has 1.5 million members belonging to 7,644 posts, and is the largest American organization of combat...
and many others. The Sigurd Anderson airport in Webster, South Dakota is named in his honor.