William Lee Knous

William Lee Knous ( born February 2, 1889 in Ouray, Colorado, † December 13, 1959 in Denver, Colorado ) was an American politician (Democratic Party) and from 1947 to 1950 the 30th Governor of the State of Colorado.

Early years and political rise

William Knous studied until 1911 at the University of Colorado at Boulder Law. He then worked as a lawyer in a law firm, where he was a specialist in mining and irrigation issues. Knous was a member of the Democratic Party. Between 1926 and 1930 he served as mayor of the city of Montrose. From 1928 to 1930 he was a delegate in the House of Representatives from Colorado; 1930-1936 he was in the state Senate. There he was at times group chairman of his party and for two years president of the Senate. From 1937 to 1947 he was a judge on the Colorado Supreme Court on 5 November 1946, he was elected with 52:48 percent of the vote to Republican Leon E. Lavington as the new governor.

Governor and federal judge

Knous took up his new post on 14 January 1947. In 1948 he was elected to a second term. During his reign the schools were better funded by the state. The state compensation for loss of working hours has been increased and the Highway Administration was reformed. The state budget was not only balanced, but recorded a significant surplus.

On April 15, 1950 Knous came back early from his office to take the place of a judge at the Federal District Court for the District of Colorado. This office he retained until his death in 1959., With his wife Julia Bain Knous had three children. His son Robert was 1959-1967 Lieutenant Governor of Colorado.