Matthew E. Welsh
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Matthew Empson Welsh (September 15, 1912 - May 28, 1995) was the 41st Governor of Indiana, serving from 1961 to 1965.
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[edit] Early life
Welsh was born in Detroit, Michigan and moved with his family to Vincennes, Indiana in 1924. He received a degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1934 and later received his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School.
[edit] Family
In 1937, Welsh married Virginia Homann and the couple had twin daughters, Janet and Kay.
[edit] Political life
After practicing law in Vincennes for several years, Welsh, a Democrat, was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 1940 and 1942. In 1943, he left his seat to serve in the Navy during World War II.
When he returned stateside in 1946, Welsh resumed his law practice and was named the U.S. Attorney for the southern district of Indiana in 1950, a post he would hold until 1952. In 1954, he was elected to the Indiana Senate.
Welsh was elected governor of Indiana in 1960 and it was during his tenure as governor that Indiana enacted its first sales tax, a two-percent levy, in 1963.
Upon the end of Welsh's term in 1965, President Lyndon Johnson appointed the former governor to be the International Joint Commission on Waterways with Canada (IJC).
Governor Welsh holds a unique place in American pop culture for personally banning the song Louie Louie from being played on Indiana radio stations He made his decision based solely on the rumor that the song contained sexually explicit lyrics, despite assertions by The Kingsmen, who recorded the song, that it did not contain such lyrics.
[edit] Later years
Following his service on the IJC, Welsh returned to Indianapolis, where he practiced law for several years. He eventually ran for governor again in 1972, but lost to Otis R. Bowen.
Later on, Welch served on the board of trustees of Vincennes University, which eventually named a campus building in his honor.
Welsh died on May 28, 1995, in Indianapolis.
[edit] Trivia
The bridge crossing the Ohio River that links Mauckport, Indiana with Brandenburg, Kentucky is named in Welsh's honor.
[edit] Quotes
"“It never costs you to be a gentleman."
[edit] External link
| Preceded by Harold W. Handley |
Governor of Indiana January 9, 1961 - January 11, 1965 |
Succeeded by Roger D. Branigin |
| Governors of Indiana |  |
|---|---|
| Territory: Harrison • Posey • State: Jennings • Boon • W. Hendricks • Ray • Noble • Wallace • Bigger • J. Whitcomb • Dunning • Wright • Willard • Hammond • Lane • Morton • Baker • T. Hendricks • Williams • Gray • Porter • Gray • Hovey • Chase • Matthews • Mount • Durbin • Hanly • Marshall • Ralston • Goodrich • McCray • Branch • Jackson • Leslie • McNutt • Townsend • Schricker • Gates • Schricker • Craig • Handley • Welsh • Branigin • E. Whitcomb • Bowen • Orr • Bayh • O'Bannon • Kernan • Daniels |
