Leo Elthon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 32ndGovernor of Iowa | |
| In office November 21, 1954 – January 13, 1955 | |
| Lieutenant | None |
| Preceded by | William S. Beardsley |
| Succeeded by | Leo Hoegh |
| 33rdLieutenant Governor of Iowa | |
| In office 1953–1957 | |
| Governor | William S. Beardsley Leo Hoegh |
| Preceded by | William H. Nicholas |
| Succeeded by | William H. Nicholas |
| Mayor ofFertile | |
| In office 1958–1963 | |
| Member of theIowa Senate | |
| In office 1963–1965 | |
| In office 1933–1953 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Leo Elthon (1898-06-09)June 9, 1898 Fertile, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | April 16, 1967(1967-04-16) (aged 68) Fertile, Iowa, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 6 |
| Education | Augsburg Seminary Iowa State University Hamilton College |
Leo Hobson Elthon (June 9, 1898 – April 16, 1967) was the32nd Governor ofIowa from November 21, 1954 to January 13, 1955. Elthon had been elected theLieutenant Governor of Iowa in November 1952, and filled the unexpired term of GovernorWilliam S. Beardsley, who died in office.[1][2][3]
Elthon was born inFertile, Iowa in 1898, to Andrew Anderson Elthon and Olena Petrina (née Ouverson) Elthon.[1][2][4][5] His father was born inVang Municipality inValdres,Norway. His mother's parents had emigrated from Norway as well.
Elthon attended theAugsburg Seminary at theIowa State Teachers College,Iowa State University, andHamilton College.[1][2][4][5] He became a schoolteacher at Manual Training and Athletics inClear Lake and school principal at Fertile High School in Fertile.[1][2][4]
He married on Synneva Hjelmeland on February 28, 1922 and had 6 children.[2][4][5] Her father was Reverend Rasmus O. Hjelmeland who emigrated from Norway with his with wife Anne.
He was first elected in theIowa Senate in 1932 and served from 1933 to 1953, representingHoward County,Mitchell County and Worth County.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
He was elected as lieutenant governor in 1952.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
He assumed the Governorship upon the death of GovernorBeardsley, in an automobile accident, in November 1954.[1][2][3][4][6][5] He held the governorship until Governor-elect and then currentIowa Attorney GeneralLeo Hoegh took office in January 1955.[1][2][3] He is the only Governor to rise to be Governor upon the death of the previous Governor.[3]
In his less than 3 months in office, he commuted 17 life sentences, following a policy that GovernorBeardsley would have enacted.[3] He also delivered theState of the State address, asking for more money for unemployment insurance, schools, roads, and workers compensation.unemployment insurance and workers compensation
He then continued serving as Lieutenant Governor under GovernorHoegh until 1957.[1][2][3]
He then served as mayor ofFertile, Iowa, 1958 to 1963 and again in the state Senate, 1963 to 1965.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Synneva died in 1963.[2] In 1964, Elthon suffered a heart attack, worsening his health for the last 4 years of his life.[2][3][4][5][6] Elthon died in 1967 inMason City, Iowa ofcolon cancer and was interred at Brushpoint Cemetery in Fertile.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Republican Party nominee forLieutenant Governor of Iowa 1952, 1954 | Succeeded by William H. Nicholas |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of Iowa 1953–1957 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of Iowa 1954–1955 | Succeeded by |
| Territorial(1838–1846) | ||
|---|---|---|
| State(since 1846) | ||
