Vernon W. Thomson
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Article ImagesVernon Wallace Thomson (November 5, 1905 – April 2, 1988) was an American attorney and politician who served as the 34th Governor of Wisconsin from 1957 to 1959.
Vernon Thomson | |
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Thompson circa 1965 | |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 3rd district | |
In office January 3, 1961 – December 31, 1974 | |
Preceded by | Gardner R. Withrow |
Succeeded by | Alvin Baldus |
34th Governor of Wisconsin | |
In office January 7, 1957 – January 5, 1959 | |
Lieutenant | Warren P. Knowles |
Preceded by | Walter J. Kohler Jr. |
Succeeded by | Gaylord A. Nelson |
32nd Attorney General of Wisconsin | |
In office January 1, 1951 – January 7, 1957 | |
Governor | Walter J. Kohler, Jr. |
Preceded by | Thomas E. Fairchild |
Succeeded by | Stewart G. Honeck |
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly | |
In office 1935–1951 | |
Personal details | |
Born | November 5, 1905 Richland Center, Wisconsin |
Died | April 2, 1988 (aged 82) Washington, D.C. |
Political party | Republican |
Early life and education
Vernon Thomson was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin. He attended what is now Carroll University, in 1925, but graduated from what is now the University of Wisconsin–Madison, in 1927, where he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity. In 1932, he received his law degree and practiced law.
Thomson became involved in the Republican Party. He was mayor of Richland Center from 1944 to 1951 and a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1935 to 1951, and served as Speaker of the Assembly from 1939 to 1945. He served as Attorney General of Wisconsin from 1951 to 1957. In 1956, he was elected governor of Wisconsin, defeating William Proxmire; he was defeated for reelection as governor in 1958 by Gaylord Nelson.
In 1960, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives representing Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district. He served in the 87th and was reelected to the six succeeding congresses. He was defeated for reelection in 1974, losing to Alvin Baldus. He resigned before the official end of his term, overall serving from January 3, 1961 till December 31, 1974. Thomson was a member of the Federal Elections Commission.
Thomson died in Washington, D.C., and was buried in Richland Center, Wisconsin.[1]
- ^ Thomson, Vernon W. 1905. Wisconsinhistory.org. Retrieved on 2016-01-22.
- United States Congress. "Vernon W. Thomson (id: T000233)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Party political offices | ||
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Preceded by Donald J. Martin |
Republican nominee for Attorney General of Wisconsin 1950, 1952, 1954 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by | Republican nominee for Governor of Wisconsin 1956, 1958 |
Succeeded by Philip Kuehn |
Legal offices | ||
Preceded by | Attorney General of Wisconsin 1951–1957 |
Succeeded by |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by | Governor of Wisconsin 1957–1959 |
Succeeded by |
U.S. House of Representatives | ||
Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district January 3, 1961 – December 31, 1974 |
Succeeded by |