Karl Rolvaag

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Karl Rolvaag (1963)

Karl Fritjof Rolvaag (born July 18, 1913 in Northfield , Minnesota ; † December 20, 1990 ibid.) Was an American politician and governor of the state of Minnesota from 1963 to 1967 .

Early years

Karl Rolvaag attended St. Olaf College and then until 1946 the University of Minnesota . Finally, with a grant from the American-Scandinavian Foundation, he was able to study in Oslo , Norway , until 1948 . His training was interrupted by World War II, in which Rolvaag participated as an officer in the US Army . After graduating, Rolvaag worked in the insurance industry.

Political rise

Rolvaag became a member of the Democratic Party , which in Minnesota has been called the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) since a merger in 1944 . Between 1954 and 1963 he was lieutenant governor of his state. In the gubernatorial elections of 1962, he ran against the incumbent Elmer L. Andersen . The election result was very close and was not certain until March 1963 after several vote counts and a court order: Rolvaag had won by 91 votes.

Minnesota governor

Karl Rolvaag took up his new post on March 21, 1963. He became the first governor of this state to serve a four-year term after a constitutional amendment. During those four years, Minnesota introduced a new school system for junior colleges. The electoral districts of the state were reallocated and conditions in the mental hospitals were improved. After his reelection attempt in 1966, Rolvaag had to leave office on January 2, 1967.

Another résumé

Rolvaag was the American ambassador to Iceland between 1967 and 1969 . From 1970 to 1975 he was a member of the committee that dealt with the public utilities of the state ( Minnesota Public Utility Commission ). Then he retired from public life. He had a drinking problem at the time, which he fought. He later gave lectures in self-help groups for alcohol addicts and gave advice on overcoming this problem. He died of heart failure in December 1990. He had two children with his wife, Florence A. Boedeker.

literature

  • Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 2, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Rolvaag, Karl
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Rolvaag, Karl Fritjof (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician and governor of the state of Minnesota (1963–1967)
DATE OF BIRTH July 18, 1913
PLACE OF BIRTH Northfield , Minnesota
DATE OF DEATH December 20, 1990
Place of death Northfield , Minnesota