Isaac Homer Van Winkle

Infobox Politician
name = Isaac Homer Van Winkle


imagesize = 140px
caption = Van Winkle in 1921
office = 6th Oregon Attorney General
termstart = October 14 1920
termend = December 14 1943
nominator =
appointer = Ben W. Olcott
predecessor = George M. Brown
successor = George Neuner
office2 =
termstart2 =
termend2 =
nominator2 =
appointer2 =
predecessor2 =
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birthdate = December 3 1870
birthplace = Halsey, Oregon
deathdate = death date and age|1943|12|14|1870|12|3|mf=y
deathplace = Salem, Oregon
party = Republican
spouse =

Isaac Homer Van Winkle (December 3 1870 – December 14 1943) was an American attorney in the state of Oregon. A former dean of Willamette University's law school, he served as the 6th Attorney General of Oregon for 23 years.

Early life

Van Winkle was born in Linn County, Oregon, near the community of Halsey, to Isaac Newton Van Winkle and Elizabeth Ann Pearl. [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~sengercm/pvw.html#ihv Descendants of Rev. Isaac Newton Van Winkle] , RootsWeb. Retrieved on September 4 2007.] Isaac graduated from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, in 1898 with a bachelor's of arts degree.Obituaries: Isaac H. Van Winkle. "The New York Times", December 16 1943.] In 1901, he graduated from Willamette University College of Law, where he later served as the sixth dean. [http://www.osbar.org/publications/bulletin/03oct/among.html Among Ourselves] , "Oregon State Bar Bulletin", October 2003. Retrieved on September 4 2007] On September 3 1902, Isaac married Lella Velvetta Parrish, and they would have one daughter named Rosalind. Lella died in 1918.

Public service

In 1904, Van Winkle began serving as an assistant attorney general for Oregon, remaining in the post until 1920 (though not from 1913 to 1915). ["State v. Nielsen", 51 Or. 588, 95 P. 720 (1908)] He was an instructor at Willamette's law school from 1905 to 1913. That year he began his tenure as dean of the school, remaining until 1927. The Van Winkle Melton Endowed Professorship at Willamette is named in his honor.

On October 14 1920, Van Winkle was appointed as the sixth Oregon Attorney General by Oregon Governor Ben W. Olcott, to replace George M. Brown, who had resigned from the position. [http://bluebook.state.or.us/state/elections/elections30.htm Attorneys General of Oregon] , Oregon Secretary of State: "Oregon Blue Book". Retrieved on September 4 2007.] As a Republican, he was elected to a full four-year term later that year. Van Winkle won re-election in 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, and 1940 before dying in office on December 14 1943. Van Winkle's 23 years as Oregon's top lawyer are the longest of any attorney general in the state's history. In 1938, he ran for a position on the Oregon Supreme Court, but lost and remained as Attorney General. [ [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/vanwagenen-vaudain.html#ROC1F6B04 The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Vanwagenen to Vaudain] . Retrieved on September 4 2007.]

References