Scott M. Matheson

Scott Milne Matheson
12th Governor of Utah
In office
January 3, 1977 – January 7, 1985
Lieutenant David S. Monson
Preceded by Calvin L. Rampton
Succeeded by Norman H. Bangerter
65th Chairman of the National Governors Association
In office
1982 – 1983
Preceded by Richard Snelling
Succeeded by James R. Thompson
Personal details
Born January 8, 1929(1929-01-08)
Chicago, Illinois
Died October 7, 1990(1990-10-07) (aged 61)
Salt Lake City, Utah
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Norma Louise Warenski
Children 4
Profession Lawyer
Religion The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Scott Milne Matheson (January 8, 1929 - October 7, 1990), was the 12th Governor of Utah from 1977 to 1985. He is currently the last Democrat to serve in that position.

Matheson was born on January 8, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois to LDS parents Scott Milne and Adele Adams Matheson. Soon after his birth, the family moved to Utah, settling first in Parowan, before moving to Salt Lake City, when his father became a federal prosecutor.

Matheson graduated from Salt Lake City's East High School in 1946, earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Utah in 1950, and a law degree from Stanford University in 1952. He operated a private law practice in Iron County, Utah for five years before taking a position with Union Pacific Railroad in 1958. At the railroad he rose to the position of general counsel before making his 1976 run for governor.

During his term as governor, Matheson was named defendant in the U.S. Supreme Court case of H. L. v. Matheson.

On 25 August 1951 he married Norma Louise Warenski, and the couple had four children. One is U.S. Congressman Jim Matheson. Another son, Scott Matheson, Jr., was the 2004 Democratic nominee for Governor of Utah, and is currently a federal Judge.

Governor Matheson died of multiple myeloma, a rare form of cancer, and was buried in Parowan City Cemetery in Parowan, Utah.

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Political offices
Preceded by
Calvin L. Rampton
Governor of Utah
1977–1985
Succeeded by
Norman H. Bangerter
Preceded by
Richard Snelling
Vermont
Chairman of the National Governors Association
1982 – 1983
Succeeded by
James R. Thompson
Illinois