- William L. Guy
Infobox Governor
name = William L. Guy
order = 26th
office = Governor of North Dakota
term_start = 1961
term_end = 1973
lieutenant =Richard F. Larsen
predecessor = John E. Davis
successor =Arthur A. Link
birth_date = birth date and age|1919|9|30
birth_place =Devils Lake, North Dakota ,United States
death_date =
death_place =
party = Democrat
spouse =Jean Guy
profession =
religion =William Lewis Guy (born
September 30 ,1919 ) was the governor of theU.S. state ofNorth Dakota from 1961 to 1973. At 89, he is the second oldest of the six living current or past governors ofNorth Dakota .Biography
Guy was born in
Devils Lake, North Dakota . After receiving his B.S. degree from North Dakota Agricultural College (NDAC), where he was a member ofSigma Alpha Epsilon , he served in the U.S. Navy inWorld War II as a gunnery officer, retiring as a lieutenant. He received a master's degree from theUniversity of Minnesota , and then became the assistant county agent for Cass County. With his wife Jean, Guy began farming atAmenia, North Dakota , in 1948 and taught agricultural economics at NDAC during the winter quarters. He served in the North Dakota House of Representatives for one term from 1959 to 1961. In the legislature Guy served as assistant minority leader.Years as Governor
His election as governor on the
Democratic-Non Partisan League ticket finally established the two-party system in North Dakota. As governor, Guy served two two-year terms and two four-year terms. He began modernizing state government by implementing the new Office of Management and Budget. During his terms, the state hospital's patient load was reduced from 2,600 to 600 and eight regional mental health districts were established. Guy organized the five-state Old West Trail Tourist Loop. The interstate highway system, 350 Minuteman missiles, the anti-ballistic missiles site, and Garrison Diversion were large federal projects that came to North Dakota during Guy's watch. He was instrumental in bringing three sugar beet refineries and large scale coal-fired electrical generation to North Dakota. Governor Guy was selected by PresidentLyndon B. Johnson to observe the first presidential elections inSouth Vietnam . He originated the concept of an interpretive North Dakota Heritage Center and promoted its construction. The Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award was established by Governor Guy as North Dakota's highest recognition. Guy organized and served as the first chairman of the Midwest Governors' Conference in 1962. In 1966 he was elected chairman of theNational Governors' Conference . He was an unsuccessful candidate for theUnited States Senate in 1974.ee also
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North Dakota United States Senate election, 1974
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