Milward L. Simpson

Milward L. Simpson
23rd Governor of Wyoming
In office January 3, 1955 – January 5, 1959
Preceded by	C. J. "Doc" Rogers
Succeeded by	John J. Hickey
United States Senator, Wyoming
In office November 6, 1962 – January 3, 1967
Preceded by	John J. Hickey
Succeeded by	Clifford Hansen
Personal details
Born	Milward Lee Simpson November 12, 1897(1897-11-12) Jackson, Wyoming
Died	June 10, 1993(1993-06-10) (aged 95) Cody, Wyoming
Political party	Republican
Profession	Attorney
Religion	Episcopalianism

Milward Lee Simpson (November 12, 1897 – June 10, 1993) was an American politician who served as a U.S. Senator and as the 23rd Governor of Wyoming.

Life and career

Simpson was born in Jackson, Teton County, Wyoming, the son of Margaret (née Burnett) and William Lee Simpson. He attended the public schools of Wood River, Meeteetse, and Cody; and graduated from the University of Wyoming in Laramie (Albany County) in 1921. While a student at Wyoming, he was both an athlete and a member of the university's debate team. He then attended Harvard University Law School from 1921 to 1925. During World War I, Simpson served as a second lieutenant in the infantry, United States Army. Simpson was admitted to the bar in 1926 and practiced law in Cody until 1955.

Simpson served as a member of the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1926 to 1927. He was a member of the board of trustees of the University of Wyoming in 1939 and president of the board from 1943-1954. He was a member of the National Association of Governing Boards of State Universities and Allied Institutions in 1950 and served as president of the body from 1952-1953.

Milward Simpson was narrowly elected Governor of Wyoming in November 1954. He defeated the Democrat William Jack, 56,275 (50.5 percent) to 55,163 (49.5 percent). Simpson was unseated in 1958, a heavily Democratic year nationally, after a single term in office by John J. Hickey of Rawlins (Carbon County), 55,070 (48.9 percent) to 52,488 (46.6 percent). He resumed his law practice in 1959.

Simpson later won a special election on November 6, 1962, to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Republican Senator-elect Edwin Keith Thomson in the term ending January 3, 1967; he was not a candidate for Senate reelection in 1966 but was succeeded by outgoing Governor Clifford Peter Hansen of Jackson. Simpson lived in Cody until his death in 1993 at age 95.

Simpson, along with Barry Goldwater of Arizona, Norris Cotton of New Hampshire, Bourke B. Hickenlooper of Iowa, and John Tower of Texas, was one of six Republican Senators who voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964.^[1]

His son, Alan K. Simpson, also served in the United States Senate as a Republican. Alan Simpson was the Senate GOP whip during the early 1990s.

As a young man, Milward Simpson played professional baseball in Cody. One of his teammates was the future Louisiana Lieutenant Governor and Education Superintendent William J. "Bill" Dodd (1909–1991). They became close friends.

Bibliography

• U.S. Congress. Tributes to Milward L. Simpson of Wyoming. 89th Cong., 2nd sess., 1966. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1966.
• Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections, Wyoming Governor's elections, 1954 and 1958
• William J. "Bill" Dodd, Peapatch Politics: The Earl Long Era in Louisiana (Baton Rouge, Claitor's, 1991)
• Robert Wakefield, Ph.D, Milward L. Simpson: The Fiery Petrel, Wakefield Publishing

References

1. ^ http://www.portdeposit.com/History/MilwardSimpson.htm

External links

• Milward L. Simpson at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

Biography portal

• Milward L. Simpson at Find a Grave

Political offices
Preceded by Doc Rogers	Governor of Wyoming 1955–1959	Succeeded by John J. Hickey
United States Senate
Preceded by John J. Hickey	United States Senator (Class 2) from Wyoming November 7, 1962–January 3, 1967 Served alongside: Gale W. McGee	Succeeded by Clifford Hansen
Honorary titles
Preceded by Frank Briggs	Oldest living U.S. Senator September 23, 1992-June 10, 1993	Succeeded by Margaret Smith

Persondata
Name	Simpson, Milward L.
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	November 12, 1897
Place of birth	Jackson, Wyoming
Date of death	June 10, 1993
Place of death	Cody, Wyoming