Walter Samuel Goodland

Walter Samuel Goodland

Walter Samuel Goodland (born December 22, 1862 in Sharon , Walworth County , Wisconsin , †  March 12, 1947 in Madison , Wisconsin) was an American politician and from 1943 to 1947 the 31st  governor of the state of Wisconsin.

Early years

Walter Goodland attended local schools in his home country and Lawrence College for a year . He then briefly taught the Appleton area before going to law school in his father's legal practice. After his exams and his admission to the bar in 1886, he moved to Wakefield , Michigan , where he opened his own law firm. In Michigan he also got into the newspaper business. After moving to Ironwood , he founded the newspaper "Ironwood Times", whose publisher and editor he was between 1888 and 1895. In 1895 he returned to Wisconsin, where he continued to work in the newspaper business. Between 1902 and 1933 he was the owner and editor of the newspaper "Racine Times", which appeared in his new home, Racine .

Political rise

Racine also began his political ascent as a member of the Republican Party . For twelve years he was the head of Racine's water supply. Between 1911 and 1915 he was mayor of this place; from 1927 to 1934 he was a member of the Wisconsin Senate . In 1938 he was elected lieutenant governor of his state. In this office he was confirmed in 1940 and 1942 respectively. Until 1943 he was Deputy Governor Julius P. Heil . In the gubernatorial elections of 1942, Orland Steen Loomis was actually elected as the new governor, while Goodland was elected as vice governor by the voters.

Governor of wisconsin

Elected Governor Loomis passed away before his inauguration, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Lieutenant Governor Goodland should take over. Previously there had been a dispute with Julius Heil, who was of the opinion that he should now remain in office as governor. Walter Goodland was governor of Wisconsin from January 4, 1943. At that time he was already over 80 years old. Nonetheless, he sought re-election in 1944 and 1946, which he succeeded in every time.

In Goodland's reign, the Second World War came to an end. Now industrial production, as everywhere in the United States, had to be reduced to civilian needs, and the returning soldiers had to be reintegrated into society. At the time of the 1946 gubernatorial election, Goodland was nearly 84 years old. Nevertheless, he was elected for a third term. But he was only able to rule for a few more weeks: on March 12, 1947, he died of a heart attack. Walter Goodland was buried in his hometown of Racine. He was married three times and had a total of five children.

Web links

• Walter Samuel Goodland in the database of the National Governors Association (English)
• Wisconsin Historical Society (English)
• Walter Samuel Goodland in the database of Find a Grave (English)