Denver Dickerson
Encyclopedia
Denver Dickerson was Speaker of the Nevada Assembly
in 1943 and served in the U.S. Army
during World War II. He was appointed Secretary of Guam
in 1963 by U.S. President John F. Kennedy
. As the office included the duties of lieutenant governor
at that time, Dickerson occasionally served as the acting governor
of Guam
during his term.
Prior to entering politics, Dickerson worked as a journalist in Nevada and eventually became a newspaper publisher and editor. He later served as the head of the U.S. Congressional Printing Committee
until his retirement in 1980.
at Nevada State Prison
, where his father, Denver Sylvester Dickerson
, was the warden as well as the former governor of the state. His father died in November 1925, when the younger Dickerson was 11 years old.
Dickerson attended the public school system and received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Nevada
. He became a journalist for the Reno Evening Gazette
. Following in his father's footsteps, Dickerson eventually owned the Carson City Chronicle and the Nevada State News.
On June 24, 1938, Dickerson married Lois Midgley. They had two daughters, Delsey Ann and Diane.
from Ormsby County
and was elected to the 1941 session of the state legislature
. He also became the President of the Nevada Press Association in 1942. Dickerson was selected to become the Speaker of the Nevada Assembly in January 1943, at the age of 28. In October 1943, Dickerson left to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II. However, his title remained with the official records of the Nevada Assembly.
In 1947, Dickerson was appointed the head of the Nevada Department of Employment Security. In 1952, he departed for Burma as the press secretary of the U.S. embassy. Dickerson returned to Nevada in 1955 to become the editorial director of the Las Vegas Review Journal. He returned to politics in the staff of Democratic
U.S. Senator Alan Bible
.
In March 1963, Dickerson was appointed the Secretary of Guam
by U.S. President John F. Kennedy
and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate
. In his capacity as secretary, Dickerson carried out the equivalent responsibility of a lieutenant governor
, intermittently filling in as acting governor
throughout his term until 1969. In 1972, he joined the staff of the U.S. Senate Rules Committee
and became executive officer of the Congressional Printing Committee
in 1973.
Dickerson retired from the printing committee on February 29, 1980, and died in Bethesda, Maryland
on July 19, 1981. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery
on July 19 of that year.
Nevada Assembly
The Nevada Assembly is the lower house of the Nevada Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Nevada. The body consists of 42 members, elected to two-year terms from single-member districts. Each Assembly district contained approximately 47,400 people as of the 2000 census, although...
in 1943 and served in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II. He was appointed Secretary of Guam
Secretary of Guam
The Secretary of Guam was the equivalent of the Lieutenant Governor of Guam when the Governorship was still appointed by the President of the United States...
in 1963 by U.S. President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
. As the office included the duties of lieutenant governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
at that time, Dickerson occasionally served as the acting governor
Acting governor
An acting governor is a constitutional position created in some U.S. states when the governor dies in office or resigns. In some states, the governor may also be declared to be incapacitated and unable to function for various reasons, including illness and absence from the state for more than a...
of Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
during his term.
Prior to entering politics, Dickerson worked as a journalist in Nevada and eventually became a newspaper publisher and editor. He later served as the head of the U.S. Congressional Printing Committee
United States Congress Joint Committee on Printing
The Joint Committee on Printing is a joint committee of the United States Congress devoted to overseeing the functions of the Government Printing Office and general printing procedures of the federal government of the United States...
until his retirement in 1980.
Biography
On April 23, 1914, Dickerson was born in Carson CityCarson City, Nevada
The Consolidated Municipality of Carson City is the capital of the state of Nevada. The words Consolidated Municipality refer to a series of changes in 1969 which abolished Ormsby County and merged all the settlements contained within its borders into Carson City. Since that time Carson City has...
at Nevada State Prison
Nevada State Prison
Nevada State Prison is a penitentiary located in Carson City. The prison has been in continuous operation since it was established in 1862 and is managed by the Nevada Department of Corrections. It is one of the oldest prisons still operating in the United States. The high security facility housed...
, where his father, Denver Sylvester Dickerson
Denver S. Dickerson
Denver Sylvester Dickerson was an American politician. He was the 11th Governor of Nevada from 1908 to 1911. A member of the Silver – Democratic coalition party, he had previously held office as the 13th Lieutenant Governor of Nevada from 1907 to 1908...
, was the warden as well as the former governor of the state. His father died in November 1925, when the younger Dickerson was 11 years old.
Dickerson attended the public school system and received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Nevada
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
. He became a journalist for the Reno Evening Gazette
Reno Gazette-Journal
The Reno Gazette-Journal is the main daily newspaper for Reno, Nevada. It came into being when the Nevada State Journal and the Reno Evening Gazette were combined in 1983...
. Following in his father's footsteps, Dickerson eventually owned the Carson City Chronicle and the Nevada State News.
On June 24, 1938, Dickerson married Lois Midgley. They had two daughters, Delsey Ann and Diane.
Political career
In 1940, Dickerson ran for the Nevada AssemblyNevada Assembly
The Nevada Assembly is the lower house of the Nevada Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Nevada. The body consists of 42 members, elected to two-year terms from single-member districts. Each Assembly district contained approximately 47,400 people as of the 2000 census, although...
from Ormsby County
Ormsby County, Nevada
Ormsby County was a county of Nevada from 1861 until 1969. It contained Carson City, the county seat and later state capital, founded two years earlier. It was named after Major William M...
and was elected to the 1941 session of the state legislature
Nevada Legislature
The Nevada Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Legislature is a bicameral body, consisting of the lower house Nevada Assembly, with 42 members, and the upper house Nevada Senate, with 21 members. All 63 members of the Legislature are elected from an equal amount of...
. He also became the President of the Nevada Press Association in 1942. Dickerson was selected to become the Speaker of the Nevada Assembly in January 1943, at the age of 28. In October 1943, Dickerson left to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II. However, his title remained with the official records of the Nevada Assembly.
In 1947, Dickerson was appointed the head of the Nevada Department of Employment Security. In 1952, he departed for Burma as the press secretary of the U.S. embassy. Dickerson returned to Nevada in 1955 to become the editorial director of the Las Vegas Review Journal. He returned to politics in the staff of Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
U.S. Senator Alan Bible
Alan Bible
Alan Harvey Bible was a Nevada politician of the Democratic Party who served as a United States Senator from 1954 until 1974.-Biography:...
.
In March 1963, Dickerson was appointed the Secretary of Guam
Secretary of Guam
The Secretary of Guam was the equivalent of the Lieutenant Governor of Guam when the Governorship was still appointed by the President of the United States...
by U.S. President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. In his capacity as secretary, Dickerson carried out the equivalent responsibility of a lieutenant governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
, intermittently filling in as acting governor
Acting governor
An acting governor is a constitutional position created in some U.S. states when the governor dies in office or resigns. In some states, the governor may also be declared to be incapacitated and unable to function for various reasons, including illness and absence from the state for more than a...
throughout his term until 1969. In 1972, he joined the staff of the U.S. Senate Rules Committee
United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration is responsible for the rules of the United States Senate, with administration of congressional buildings, and with credentials and qualifications of members of the Senate, including responsibility for dealing with contested elections.The committee...
and became executive officer of the Congressional Printing Committee
United States Congress Joint Committee on Printing
The Joint Committee on Printing is a joint committee of the United States Congress devoted to overseeing the functions of the Government Printing Office and general printing procedures of the federal government of the United States...
in 1973.
Dickerson retired from the printing committee on February 29, 1980, and died in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
on July 19, 1981. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
on July 19 of that year.
See also
- List of United States political families (Dickersons of Nevada)