William S. Beardsley
Encyclopedia
William Shane "Bill" Beardsley (May 13, 1901 – November 21, 1954) was the 31st Governor of Iowa
from 1949 to 1954.
and grew up in Birmingham, Iowa
. The son of a pharmacist
, he attended pharmacy school himself, and established a drugstore in New Virginia, Iowa
in 1922. He was elected to the Iowa Senate
in 1932, and served there until 1938. From 1938 to 1946, he raised cattle and hogs on his farm in New Virginia. He was appointed to the Iowa House of Representatives
in 1946 to fill the term of a Representative who had died, and became a prominent opponent of the labor and education policies of fellow Republican Robert D. Blue
. In June 1948, he successfully challenged Blue in the Republican primary
, and went on to an easy victory in the general election.
Beardsley was known for his advocacy of a balanced state budget, and his opposition to the Truman
administration's Brannan Plan
. He was reelected in 1950 and 1952, but chose not to run for a fourth term in 1954. During his tenure the following notable accomplishements were achieved: workmen's compensation benefits were increased; the highway patrol was expanded; anti-gambling laws were sanctioned; roads, schools, and institutions were all advanced; and a World War II veteran's bonus was authorized.
On November 21, 1954, Beardsley was killed in a highway accident just north of Des Moines while returning from a visit to his son, Dan Beardsley, a student at Iowa State University
in Ames, Iowa
. He is interred at the New Virginia cemetery
in New Virginia, Iowa.
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
from 1949 to 1954.
Biography
Beardsley was born in Beacon, IowaBeacon, Iowa
Beacon is a city in Mahaska County, Iowa, United States. The population was 518 at the 2000 census.-History:Coal miners in Beacon joined the United Mine Workers union in 1894, organizing local 178. By 1902, this had 100 members.-Geography:...
and grew up in Birmingham, Iowa
Birmingham, Iowa
Birmingham is a city in Van Buren County, Iowa, United States. The population was 423 at the 2000 census.- Geography :Birmingham is located at 40°52'43" North, 91°56'48" West ....
. The son of a pharmacist
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
, he attended pharmacy school himself, and established a drugstore in New Virginia, Iowa
New Virginia, Iowa
New Virginia is a city in Warren County, Iowa, United States. The population was 469 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:New Virginia is located at ....
in 1922. He was elected to the Iowa Senate
Iowa Senate
The Iowa Senate is the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 50 members of the Senate, representing 50 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 59,500 per constituency. Each Senate district is composed of two House districts...
in 1932, and served there until 1938. From 1938 to 1946, he raised cattle and hogs on his farm in New Virginia. He was appointed to the Iowa House of Representatives
Iowa House of Representatives
The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 100 members of the House of Representatives, representing 100 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 29,750 for each constituency...
in 1946 to fill the term of a Representative who had died, and became a prominent opponent of the labor and education policies of fellow Republican Robert D. Blue
Robert D. Blue
Robert Donald Blue was the 30th Governor of Iowa from 1945-49.-Biography:...
. In June 1948, he successfully challenged Blue in the Republican primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
, and went on to an easy victory in the general election.
Beardsley was known for his advocacy of a balanced state budget, and his opposition to the Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
administration's Brannan Plan
Charles F. Brannan
Charles Franklin Brannan was the Secretary of Agriculture from 1948 to 1953. He was born in Denver, Colorado, and received his law degree from the University of Denver law school in 1929...
. He was reelected in 1950 and 1952, but chose not to run for a fourth term in 1954. During his tenure the following notable accomplishements were achieved: workmen's compensation benefits were increased; the highway patrol was expanded; anti-gambling laws were sanctioned; roads, schools, and institutions were all advanced; and a World War II veteran's bonus was authorized.
On November 21, 1954, Beardsley was killed in a highway accident just north of Des Moines while returning from a visit to his son, Dan Beardsley, a student at Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
in Ames, Iowa
Ames, Iowa
Ames is a city located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa in Story County, and approximately north of Des Moines. The U.S. Census Bureau designates that Ames, Iowa metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County, and which, when combined with the Boone, Iowa...
. He is interred at the New Virginia cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
in New Virginia, Iowa.
External links
- National Governors Association biography
- "Popularity in Reverse", TIMETime (magazine)Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
, June 21, 1948 - "Governor Beardsley of Iowa Is Killed As His Auto Smashes Into Truck", New York Times, November 22, 1954 (subscription required)