Vernon Wallace Thomson (November 5, 1905– April 2, 1988) was the 34th Governor of Wisconsin from 1957 to 1959. Vernon Thomson was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin. He attended what is now Carroll University, in 1925, but graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, in 1927, where he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity. In 1932, he received his law degree and practiced law. Thomson became involved in the Republican Party. He was mayor of Richland Center from 1944 to 1951 and a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1935 to 1951, of which he served as speaker. He was attorney general of Wisconsin from 1951 to 1957. In 1956, he was elected governor of Wisconsin defeating William Proxmire; he was defeated for reelection as governor in 1958 by Gaylord Nelson. In 1961, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives and was defeated for reelection in 1974. Vernon Thomson was a member of the Federal Elections Commission. Vernon Thomson died in Washington, D.C. and was buried in Richland Center, Wisconsin.[1]
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by Walter J. Kohler, Jr. |
Governor of Wisconsin 1957-1959 |
Succeeded by Gaylord Nelson |
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