Harold LeVander | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 32nd Governor of Minnesota | |
| In office January 2, 1967 – January 4, 1971 | |
| Lieutenant | James B. Goetz |
| Preceded by | Karl Rolvaag |
| Succeeded by | Wendell Anderson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Karl Harold Phillip LeVander (1910-10-10)October 10, 1910 |
| Died | March 30, 1992(1992-03-30) (aged 81) |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Iantha Powrie |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Gustavus Adolphus College University of Minnesota Law School |
| Profession | lawyer |
Karl Harold Phillip LeVander (October 10, 1910 – March 30, 1992) was an American attorney and politician. ARepublican, he served as the32nd governor of Minnesota from January 2, 1967 to January 4, 1971, after defeating incumbent governorKarl Rolvaag in the 1966 election.
LeVander was born inSwedehome, Nebraska (nearStromsburg,Polk County) and attended high school inWatertown, Minnesota. His father, Peter Magni LeVander, was a Swedish immigrant and clergyman.[1]
He graduated magna cum laude fromGustavus Adolphus College in 1932, where he served as class president andstudent council president. He was also on the debate team, winning the National Peace Oratorical Contest, and the football team and track team, where he competed in the high hurdles and pole vault.[2] After graduating from Gustavus, he attended theUniversity of Minnesota Law School. He married Iantha Powrie in 1938, and they raised a family of three children: Harold "Hap," Jean, and Diane LeVander.[3][4]
After graduation, LeVander worked as assistant county attorney forDakota County from 1935 to 1939. He also worked for the law firm of Stassen & Ryan inSouth St. Paul, and taught speech and coached debate atMacalester College. He was active in local commerce, acting as president of South Saint Paul's Chamber of Commerce from 1952 to 1954 and of the South Saint Paul United FederalSavings and Loan Association from 1953 to 1967. He was politically connected, having worked with future governorHarold Stassen and futureU.S. RepresentativeElmer Ryan at their law firm. In 1962, he earned the Greater Gustavus Alumni Award for Distinguished Career in Law.[4]
LeVander took the governorship in 1967, and for the first time since 1953, the Republicans held the governorship and both houses of the state legislature. During his term the first Minnesota sales tax was created. He favored "initiative and referendum" and vetoed two bills that did not contain it. He also created theMetropolitan Council, theMinnesota Pollution Control Agency, and the inaugural Human Rights Department. During his term, the legislature ratified theTwenty-sixth Amendment, which lowered the minimum voting age nationwide to 18.
In a surprise move, LeVander declined to seek reelection in 1970, returning to his law practice and business interests, becoming a director ofThe St. Paul Companies (1973–1981), theBilly Graham Evangelistic Association (1974–1981), and the Saint Paul Chamber of Commerce (1975–1978). In 1992 he died from Parkinson's disease at the age of 81.[1]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of Minnesota 1966 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | 32nd Governor of Minnesota 1967 – 1971 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
