Clarence Norman Brunsdale

Clarence Norman Brunsdale ( born July 9, 1891 in Sherbrooke, Steele County, North Dakota; † January 27, 1978 in Mayville, North Dakota ) was a U.S. Representative from 1951-1957 and the 24th Governor of North Dakota. This state he represented also in the U.S. Senate.

Early years and political rise

Norman Brunsdale attended until 1913 the Luther College in Iowa. He then worked as a teacher, farmer and businessman. Between 1927 and 1935, and again from 1939 to 1951 he was a member of the Senate of North Dakota; in 1943 he was even President of the Parliament chamber. In 1950 he was elected as a candidate of the Republican Party as the new governor, making it significantly prevailed with 66.3 percent of the vote to Democrat Clyde G. Byerly.

Governor of North Dakota

Brunsdales term began on January 3, 1951. Having been confirmed in the years 1952 and 1954 by the voters in each case, he could until January 9, 1957 remain in office. During this time, the governor promoted the industrial growth in his state and improved the water supply. During this time, the Garrison Dam was built. With the Highway Department a department that dealt with the expansion of the highways of the state was created. Brunsdale but also took care to improve the education policy, health care and agriculture.

U.S. Senator

After the end of his term Brunsdale took a seat in the U.S. Senate, which had become vacant after the death of William Langer. There he remained 1959-1960. Thereafter he devoted himself to his private, mostly agricultural, interests. Norman Brunsdale died in January 1978. He was married to Carrie Lajord, with whom he had two children.