Robert B. Crosby

Robert Berkey Crosby (March 26, 1911–January 7, 2000) was an American Republican politician who served as the governor of Nebraska from 1953 to 1955.

Biography

Crosby was born in North Platte, Nebraska. After attending Hastings College for a couple of years, Crosby transferred to the University of Minnesota. He received a B.A. degree from the University of Minnesota in 1931 and an LL.B. degree from Harvard Law School in 1935. Crosby served in the Navy from 1944 to 1946.

Crosby served in Nebraska's unicameral legislature, and as Speaker of the Nebraska legislature. He was also Lieutenant Governor (1947-1949). While serving at Lieutenant Governor, Crosby wrote "Why I Want to Get Rid of My Job."

Governor Crosby, who was known as "The Boy Governor from North Platte," was particularly proud that he was a great-grandson of John Holbrook Powers. "Honest John" Powers had run for governor in Nebraska as a populist in 1892.

In April 1954, Governor Crosby appointed Eva Bowring to the U.S. Senate to fill out the term of the late Dwight Griswold. In July 1954, Governor Crosby appointed Samuel Williams Reynolds to the U.S. Senate to fill out the term of the late Hugh A. Butler.

Crosby was a candidate for the U.S. Senate in the Republican primary in 1954, but was defeated by Carl T. Curtis. U.S. Senator Hazel H. Abel, who had been elected to serve the last two months of the term of the late Dwight Griswold, resigned a few days before the end of her term, and Governor Crosby appointed Curtis to serve the remainder of her term. That gave Senator Curtis slightly more seniority than other senators elected at the same time.

Following his service as governor, Crosby practiced law in Lincoln, Nebraska, until shortly before his death in 2000. He is buried in Lincoln Memorial Park in Lincoln.

References

*"Crosby, Robert (Berkey)" in "Current Biography 1954."
*Crosby, Robert B. "Why I Want to get Rid of my Job." "State Government" 20:193-4+. July 1947.
*"Nebraska Blue Book, 1954." (Lincoln, NE: Nebraska Legislative Council, 1954)
*"Berkey & Crosby" an unpublished family history prepared by Doug Smith in 1994.