Luther Youngdahl

Luther Wallace Youngdahl (* May 29, 1896 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, † June 21 1978 in Washington DC) was an American lawyer and politician and from 1947 to 1951 Governor of the State of Minnesota.

Early years and political rise

Luther Youngdahl attended until 1919, the Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, and then studied until 1921 at the University of Minnesota law. His education was interrupted by the First World War, in which he took part as a soldier. After qualifying as a lawyer, he began a successful legal career. Between 1921 and 1924, Youngdahl was deputy prosecutor of the city of Minneapolis; 1930 to 1936, he served as a judge at an urban court. From 1942 to 1946 he was a member of the Minnesota Supreme Court. Politically, he was a member of the Republican Party as their candidate, he was elected on November 5, 1946, governor of his state. He sat down with 59:40 percent of the vote against the Democrats by Harold H. Barker.

Governor and federal judge

Youngdahl took up his new post on January 8, 1947. In 1948 and 1950 he was confirmed in each case by the voters of Minnesota in this office. During his tenure, the budget was increased for education policy. Gambling machines were banned in Minnesota. In the National Guard of the State, racial segregation was abolished. In addition, the governor had to deal yet with some strikes.

After he was appointed federal judge in Washington, Luther Youngdahl resigned as Governor on 8 September 1951. Until his death in 1978, he worked as a judge at the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia. With his wife Irene Annet Engdah he had three children. Youngdahl was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.