Val Peterson

Frederick Valdemar Erastus Peterson (July 18, 1903 – October 17, 1983), also known as Val Peterson, was an American Republican politician who served as governor of Nebraska from 1947 to 1953.

Peterson was born in Oakland, Burt County, Nebraska. He received his BA degree from Wayne State Teachers College and a master's degree in political science from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Following 1933, Peterson maintained his permanent residence in Elgin, Nebraska.

Before World War II, Peterson worked as a teacher, school administrator, and newspaper man. During World War II, he served in the United States Army Air Forces.

In December 1951, Governor Peterson appointed Fred Andrew Seaton to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Kenneth S. Wherry.

Peterson served in the Eisenhower administration as director of the Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA) from 1953–1957.

As Federal Civil Defense Administrator, Val Peterson is reputed to have speculated about the possibility of creating a cobalt doomsday bomb [1].

Peterson died October 17, 1983 in Fremont, Nebraska. He is interred at Oakdale Cemetery, Oakdale, Nebraska.

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Preceded by Dwight Griswold	Governor of Nebraska 1947–1953	Succeeded by Robert B. Crosby
Preceded by Robert D. Coe	U.S. Ambassador to Denmark 1957–1961	Succeeded by William McCormick Blair, Jr.
Preceded by Tyler Thompson	U.S. Ambassador to Finland 1969–1973	Succeeded by V. John Krehbiel