Harry G. Leslie

Infobox Politician
name Harry G. Leslie


caption =
birth_date= April 6, 1878
birth_place= West Lafayette, Indiana
death_date= December 10, 1937
death_place= Miami, Florida
party = Republican
religion = Methodist [ [http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=32dc224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD NGA Bio] ]
spouse = Martha Morgan Pierce [ [http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=32dc224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD NGA Bio] ]
alma_mater= Purdue University
office =Indiana House of Representatives
Speaker
order =
term_start =1923
term_end =1927
predecessor =
successor =
office2 =Governor of Indiana
order2 =33rd
term_start2 =January 14, 1929
term_end2 =January 9, 1933
predecessor2 =Edward L. Jackson
successor2 =Paul V. McNutt

Harry Guyer Leslie (April 6, 1878 - December 10, 1937) was a Indiana Republican Party politician, speaker of the state house and governor.

Biography

Early life

Leslie was born in West Lafayette, Indiana. He was elected town clerk while still in grammar school. He attended Purdue University where he was a member of the Sigma Pi Fraternity. While at Purdue, Leslie played football becoming of the schools "immortal" player. He miraculously survived the tragic 1903 Purdue Wreck (see List of pre-1950 rail accidents) that killed fourteen of his fellow team members in Indianapolis. After many operations to repair extensive injuries, he graduated from Purdue and received his law degree from Indiana University.

Leslie opened his law office in Lafayette, became involved in Tippecanoe County politics, and was elected county treasurer in 1912 and 1914. He engaged in farming from 1914 to 1924, serving also as a bank president.

Political career

Leslie, a Republican, was elected as representative in the Indiana house for three terms and served five years in the body. He was its speaker in 1925 and 1927 before his election as governor in 1928.

A blunt, simple man, Leslie had an unusual talent for friendships and as governor was known for his straightforward style of administration. His term as governor coincided with the beginning of the Great Depression, and among his efforts to ameliorate its effects a special legislative session was called in 1932 to reduce taxes and expenses of government. The times where particularly hard as the state was hit with drought and high unemployment.

Return to private life

Following his governorship Leslie became a founder, and eventually the president, of Standard Life Insurance Company in Indianapolis. He was a Down-to-earth man and witty. Leslie's close friends included George Ade and Will Rogers.

Leslie died on December 10, 1937 in Miami, Florida and is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.

References

ee also

*List of Governors of Indiana

External links

* [http://www.in.gov/gov/2684.htm Indiana Historical Bureau: Biography and portrait]
* [http://www.countyhistory.com/doc.gov/036.htm Indiana County History - Leslie Biography]
* [http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=32dc224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD National Governors Association]