George Theodore Mickelson
George Theodore Mickelson | |
---|---|
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota | |
In office 1954–1965 | |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Axel John Beck |
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota | |
In office December 9, 1953 – February 28, 1965 | |
Appointed by | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
Preceded by | Seat established by 65 Stat. 710 |
Succeeded by | Fred Joseph Nichol |
18th Governor of South Dakota | |
In office January 7, 1947 – January 2, 1951 | |
Lieutenant | Sioux K. Grigsby Rex A. Terry |
Preceded by | Merrill Q. Sharpe |
Succeeded by | Sigurd Anderson |
Attorney General of South Dakota | |
In office 1943–1947 | |
Governor | Merrell Q. Sharpe |
Preceded by | Leo A. Temmey |
Succeeded by | Sigurd Anderson |
Personal details | |
Born | George Theodore Mickelson July 23, 1903 Selby, South Dakota |
Died | February 28, 1965 | (aged 61)
Resting place | Woodlawn Cemetery Sioux Falls, South Dakota |
Political party | Republican |
Children | George S. Mickelson |
Education | University of South Dakota School of Law (LL.B.) |
George Theodore Mickelson (July 23, 1903 – February 28, 1965) was an American attorney, 16th Attorney General and 18th Governor of South Dakota, and a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. He is the patriarch of the prominent Mickelson family of South Dakota.
Early life and education
George T. Mickelson was born near Selby in Walworth County, South Dakota. His father was a Norwegian immigrant.[1] Mickelson was the first Governor of South Dakota to be born in the twentieth century. Mickelson attended Dakota Wesleyan University and then received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1927.[2] He did not take the bar exam as he was admitted to the South Dakota bar under the state's diploma privilege.[citation needed] That year he returned to Selby to practice law.[2] He married Madge Turner and they had four children.[citation needed]
Career
Prior to serving as governor, Mickelson, a Republican, served as State's Attorney for Walworth County from 1933 to 1936. He served in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 1937 to 1943 and was Speaker of the House in his last term. He then served as South Dakota Attorney General from 1943 to 1947. He became Governor of South Dakota in 1947, and served until 1951.[2]
Presidential run
Mickelson ran as favorite-son candidate in 1952 South Dakota presidential primary, supporting a national bid of Dwight D. Eisenhower, and lost narrowly to Eisenhower chief rival, Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio.[3]
Federal judicial service
Mickelson received a recess appointment from President Dwight D. Eisenhower on December 9, 1953, to the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, to a new seat authorized by 65 Stat. 710. He was nominated to the same position by President Eisenhower on January 11, 1954. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 9, 1954, and received his commission the next day. He served as Chief Judge from 1954 to 1965. He served until his death on February 28, 1965.[4][2]
Notable clerk
Among Mickelson's judicial law clerks was Roger Leland Wollman.[citation needed]
Personal life
Mickelson is the patriarch of the prominent Mickelson family of South Dakota. Mickelson's son, George S. Mickelson, served as Governor of South Dakota from 1987 to 1993. They are the only father and son duo to serve in that office in the history of South Dakota.[5] His grandson Mark Mickelson is the current Speaker of the House of Representatives in the South Dakota State Legislature.[citation needed]
Death
Mickelson died February 28, 1965,[2] and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.[6]
References
- ^ 1910 Census, Walworth County, South Dakota
- ^ a b c d e George Theodore Mickelson at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - SD US President - R Primary Race - Jun 03, 1952". www.ourcampaigns.com.
- ^ South Dakota Governor George Theodore Mickelson (National Governor's Association) Archived 2011-01-25 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Biographical Directory of the South Dakota Legislature, 1889-1989, p. 750.
- ^ George Theodore Mickelson at Find a Grave
External links
- George Theodore Mickelson at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Vol. 50 (New York: James T. White & Company)
- George Theodore Mickelson at Find a Grave
- 1903 births
- 1965 deaths
- American people of Norwegian descent
- Governors of South Dakota
- Judges of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
- Speakers of the South Dakota House of Representatives
- Members of the South Dakota House of Representatives
- South Dakota Attorneys General
- South Dakota Republicans
- United States district court judges appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower
- 20th-century American judges
- 1952 United States presidential candidates
- 20th-century American politicians
- People from Walworth County, South Dakota
- University of South Dakota School of Law alumni
- Republican Party state governors of the United States
- 20th-century American lawyers