Edwin L. Norris

Edwin Lee Norris ( born August 15, 1865 Cumberland County, Kentucky, † April 25, 1924 in Great Falls, Montana ) is an American politician (Democratic Party) and from 1908 to 1913, the fifth Governor of the State of Montana.

Early years

Edwin Norris attended the Southern Normal School in Bowling Green until 1886. In 1888 he moved to Montana, where he studied law. After he was admitted to the bar in 1889, he began a legal career. For five years he was attorney for the town of Dillon. Between 1896 and 1900 Norris sat in the Senate of Montana, in 1899 he was president of this chamber.

Governor of Montana

In 1904 he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Montana. After the launch on April 1, 1908 resignation of the incumbent Governor Joseph Toole Norris had to take over as deputy whose term of office. Later in the year he was confirmed in the regular gubernatorial elections for four more years in this office.

During his tenure, among other things, new laws have been enacted which turned against discrimination in life insurance. Also, new labor laws were adopted, of which particularly the miners benefited in the coal mines of the country. Even in health care, some improvements have been introduced. After the end of his tenure, Norris withdrew from politics and devoted himself to his private interests. He died in April 1924. Edwin Norris was married to Bettie Wilkins.