Vernon W. Thomson Explained

Vernon Thomson
State:Wisconsin
Term Start:January 3, 1961
Term End:December 31, 1974
Predecessor:Gardner R. Withrow
Successor:Alvin Baldus
Order2:34th
Office2:Governor of Wisconsin
Lieutenant2:Warren P. Knowles
Term Start2:January 7, 1957
Term End2:January 5, 1959
Predecessor2:Walter J. Kohler Jr.
Successor2:Gaylord A. Nelson
Office3:32nd Attorney General of Wisconsin
Term Start3:January 1, 1951
Term End3:January 7, 1957
Governor3:Walter J. Kohler, Jr.
Preceded3:Thomas E. Fairchild
Succeeded3:Stewart G. Honeck
Office4:Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Term Start4:1935
Term End4:1951
Birth Date:5 November 1905
Birth Place:Richland Center, Wisconsin
Death Place:Washington, D.C.
Party:Republican

Vernon 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.

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.

Career

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]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=2764&keyword=thomson Thomson, Vernon W. 1905