C. A. Bottolfsen | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Frontispiece of 1940'sLes Bois, the yearbook ofBoise Junior College | |
| 17th and 19th Governor of Idaho | |
| In office January 2, 1939 – January 5, 1941 | |
| Lieutenant | Donald Whitehead |
| Preceded by | Barzilla Clark |
| Succeeded by | Chase A. Clark |
| In office January 4, 1943 – January 1, 1945 | |
| Lieutenant | Edwin Nelson |
| Preceded by | Chase A. Clark |
| Succeeded by | Charles Gossett |
| Speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives | |
| In office 1931 | |
| Preceded by | Donald S. Whitehead |
| Succeeded by | Robert Coulter |
| Member of the Idaho House of Representatives | |
| In office 1921–1931 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Clarence Alfred Bottolfsen (1891-10-10)October 10, 1891 Superior, Wisconsin, US |
| Died | July 18, 1964(1964-07-18) (aged 72) Boise, Idaho, US |
| Resting place | Hillcrest Cemetery, Arco, Idaho, US |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Hanna Bottolfsen (m.1912–1964, his death) |
| Profession | Newspaper publisher |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | U.S. Army |
| Years of service | 1918–1919 |
Clarence Alfred Bottolfsen (October 10, 1890 – July 18, 1964) was an American publisher and politician fromIdaho, a member of theIdaho Republican Party. He served as the state's 17th and 19thgovernor, from 1939 to 1941 and again from 1943 to 1945.[1]
Born on October 10, 1890, inSuperior, Wisconsin, Bottolfsen moved with his family toFessenden, North Dakota, in 1902 where he was educated in the public schools. While in high school, he worked as a printer's devil (an apprentice or errand boy) in a local printing shop.[2] In 1910,[3] the owner of the shop moved toArco, Idaho, purchased theArco Advertiser, and sent for Bottolfsen, then nineteen, to manage it. He purchased the paper and continued to be the publisher in Arco until 1949. He married Elizabeth Hanna on August 27, 1912.[4]
Bottolfsen entered theU.S. Army on June 27, 1918 and served until four months after the Armistice and was discharged in March 1919. After the War, he took a leading part in the organization of theAmerican Legion and served as State Commander in 1934.[5]
Bottolfsen served in theIdaho House of Representatives beginning in 1921; he was reelected in 1922, 1926, 1928 and 1930. From 1925 to 1927, he was the House's chief clerk,speaker in 1931, and startparty chairman from 1936 to 1938. He was the first of two in Idaho history to serve non-consecutive terms as governor (Cecil Andrus).
Early in his first term in 1939, Bottolfsen signed the bill creating theIdaho State Police.[6][7]
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | C. Ben Ross | 77,697 | 41.89% | C. A. Bottolfsen | 106,268 | 57.30% |
| 1940 | Chase Clark | 120,420 | 50.48% | C. A. Bottolfsen (inc.) | 118,117 | 49.52% |
| 1942 | Chase Clark (inc.) | 71,826 | 49.85% | C. A. Bottolfsen | 72,260 | 50.15% |
While governor in 1944, Bottolfsen was the Republican nominee for theUnited States Senate,[8][9] but was defeated by DemocratGlen Taylor in the general election.[10][11]
| Year | Class | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | III | Glen Taylor | 107,096 | 51.1% | C. A. Bottolfsen | 102,373 | 48.9% |
He ran for another term as governor in1946, but lost toC. A. Robins in the June primary.[13][14][15][16]
In his later years, Bottolfsen served as chief clerk of the Idaho House and on the staff of U.S. SenatorHerman Welker. He was elected to thestate senate in 1958 and 1960, but declined to seek reelection in 1962 due to poor health.
Bottolfsen was an activeFreemason within theGrand Lodge of Idaho, serving as master of Arco Lodge No. 48. He was also active with the El KorahShrine in Boise, theRotary Club, and the Arco Chamber of Commerce.
Bottolfsen died on July 18, 1964, aged 72, inBoise, Idaho, from complications fromemphysema, which he suffered from in his final years. Bottolfsen Park in Arco is named after him.[17] His papers are contained within theUniversity of Idaho Library inMoscow,[18] and he and his wife are interred at Hillcrest Cemetery in Arco.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Governor of Idaho January 1, 1939 – January 6, 1941 | Succeeded by Chase A. Clark |
| Preceded by | Governor of Idaho January 4, 1943 – January 1, 1945 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Frank L. Stephan | Republican nominee forGovernor of Idaho 1938,1940,1942 | Succeeded by W. H. Detweiler |
| Preceded by | Republican Party nominee,U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Idaho 1944 (lost) | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
