George S. Mickelson

George Speaker Mickelson ( born January 31, 1941 in Mobridge, South Dakota, † April 19, 1993 in Dubuque, Iowa ) was an American politician from 1987 to 1993, the 28th Governor of the State of South Dakota.

Early years and political rise

George S. Mickelson was the son of George Theodore Mickelson, who served as Governor of South Dakota 1947-1951. The younger Mickelson studied until 1965 at the University of South Dakota law. During the Vietnam War, he served as a captain ( Captain ) in the U.S. Army. Since 1969 until his death he was next to his respective political offices lawyer in Brookings.

Like his father, was the son of a member of the Republican Party. In the course of his political ascent, he was Special Prosecutor in the Ministry of Justice of South Dakota and District Attorney in Brookings County. Between 1975 and 1980 he sat as an MP in the House of Representatives from South Dakota. In 1986 he was elected governor of his state, where he prevailed with 52:48 percent of the vote to Democrat Lars Herseth.

Governor of South Dakota and end of life

Mickelson took up his new post on January 6, 1987 and abolished in 1990, the re-election. During his tenure, he advocated for the improvement of education. In addition, the minimum wages were increased and health care reform. Also, a state lottery was introduced in South Dakota. In 1989, the governor was able to open the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the state. George Mickelson died on 19 April 1993 in a plane crash. He was married to Linda McCahren, with whom he had three children.