Jack R. Gage

Jack R. Gage (January 131899—March 141970) was an American politician who served as the Democratic governor of Wyoming from January 2, 1961, to January 7, 1963.

Gage was born in Worland in Washakie County in north central Wyoming. In 1924, he received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Wyoming at Laramie (Albany County). He served in a number of state offices and was elected Wyoming secretary of state in the heavily Democratic year of 1958. According to provisions of the state constitution, he replaced Democratic Governor John J. Hickey, who resigned in order to fill the vacant seat in the United States Senate, occasioned by the December 9, 1960, death of Republican Senator-elect Edwin Keith Thomson.

Gage secured the 1962 Democratic gubernatorial nomination by defeating William Jack, 55.5 to 44.5 percent. That November, Gage lost the election to the Republican Clifford P. Hansen of Jackson. Hansen polled 64,970 votes (54.5 percent) to Gage's 54,298 (45.5 percent).

In his remaining seven years after leaving public office, Gage gave lectures and authored a number of books. He died in the capital city of Cheyenne at the age of seventy-one.

External links

* [http://wyoarchives.state.wy.us/governor/gage.htm Brief biographical sketch and list of gubernatorial papers at the Wyoming State Archives]
* [http://www.casperstartribune.net/wyelections/?page_id=44 Wyoming Statewide Election Guide 2006]