Samuel Roy McKelvie

Samuel Roy McKelvie (* April 15, 1881 in Fairfield, Clay County, Nebraska; † 6 January 1956 in Mesa, Arizona ) was an American politician and 1919-1923 the 20th Governor of the State of Nebraska.

Early years and political rise

After primary school McKelvie attended the University of Nebraska and the Lincoln Business College, where he graduated in 1901. He then worked as a journalist. In 1905 he worked for the newspaper " Nebraska Farmer ," which he later purchased and self published. McKelvie was a member of the Republican Party. Between 1908 and 1909 he was on the city council of Lincoln. In 1910 he was elected to the House of Representatives from Nebraska. Between 1913 and 1915 he was vice- governor of his state. In November 1918 he was elected with 54:44 percent of the vote against the Democratic incumbent Keith Neville as the new governor.

Governor of Nebraska

McKelvie took up his new post on January 9, 1919. After a re-election in 1920 he was able to officiate a total of four years. First of all, the economy had to be switched back from the war needed to civilian needs in Nebraska after the end of the First World War. Domestically, the development of road was driven to take account of the increasing volume of traffic, the construction of a new capitol was decided that the first natural parks of the state were founded, the Constitution was supplemented by numerous additions and the state's accounting system was reformed.

Further CV

After the end of his term McKelvie remained politically active. Between 1929 and 1933 he was a member of the National Farmer Committee. He was a delegate to the Republican National Conventions of 1928, 1932 and 1936. Moreover, he went back to the newspaper industry and animal husbandry. McKelvie died in January 1956 and was buried in Lincoln. He was married to Martha DeArnold, with whom he had two children.