Thomas Lee Judge

Thomas Lee Judge (born October 21, 1934 in Helena , Montana , †  September 8, 2006 in Chandler , Arizona ) was an American politician of the Democratic Party . From 1973 to 1981 he was governor of the state of Montana.

Early years and political advancement

Judge graduated from Helena High School in 1953 and then studied at the University of Notre Dame and the University of Louisville . He then attended the Adjutant General School in Indianapolis ( Indiana ). He then served in the US Army , from which he left with the rank of captain . In 1960 he became the owner of a company specializing in public relations and advertising.

Between 1961 and 1966 he was a member of the House of Representatives in Montana ; from 1967 to 1968 he sat in the State Senate. In 1968 he was elected lieutenant governor . He was Governor Forrest H. Anderson's deputy for the next four years . In November 1972 he was elected governor himself, with 54.1 percent of the vote against the Republican Ed Smith.

Governor of Montana

Thomas Judge took office as governor on January 1, 1973. In a re-election in 1976 he was confirmed for a second term until January 5, 1981. During these eight years he campaigned for environmental protection. During his tenure, several laws were passed on this subject. Otherwise his reign passed without any particular incident. Judge was a member of several governors' associations. In 1980 he failed in an attempt to be nominated again by his party for the gubernatorial election. He was defeated in the primary by his deputy Ted Schwinden , who then served as governor until 1989. In 1989 Judge was nominated one more time by his party as a candidate for the post of governor. This time he lost to Republican Stan Stephens . Then he devoted himself to his private affairs.

Thomas Judge died on September 8, 2006. He was married twice and had two children.

Web links

• Thomas Judge in the National Governors Association (English)
• Of Governors of Montana short biographies (English)
• Thomas Lee Judge in the database of Find a Grave (English)