Grant Sawyer
Encyclopedia
Frank Grant Sawyer was an American
politician
. He was the 21st Governor of Nevada from 1959 to 1967. He was a member of the Democratic Party
.
Sawyer was born on December 14, 1918, in Twin Falls, Idaho
. He was the son of two osteopaths, Harry William and Bula Belle Cameron Sawyer (and the youngest of three boys). Sawyer served in the U.S. Army during World War II
. After the war he married Bette Norene Hoge on August 1, 1946.
for two years and then enrolled at the University of Nevada at Reno, where he graduated in 1941. Sawyer then went to The George Washington University Law School
but left to enlist in the army at the beginning of World War II. After his military service he enrolled at Georgetown University
, where he received a law degree in 1946.
from 1950 to 1958. Sawyer served as the governor of Nevada
from 1959 to 1966. He was defeated in his attempt at a third term by Paul Laxalt
.
Governor Sawyer worked to push through civil rights policies and legislation, a difficult process in a state that had been accused of being "the Mississippi
of the West."
He was responsible for the development of the modern casino regulatory system with the passage of the Gaming Control Act of 1959 and the formation of the Nevada Gaming Commission
. Sawyer swam against the tide of history when he unsuccessfully fought to prevent corporate ownership over Nevada casinos.
Sawyer was the first western governor to endorse the fledgling presidential campaign of Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy
in 1960.
Commentators have reflected on Sawyer's career as follows: Grant Sawyer served two turbulent terms as Nevada's governor from 1959 to 1966. Sawyer was an advocate of progressive change. By the late fifties he had come so far from his start in the conservative political machine of Senator Patrick McCarran that many powerful Nevadans considered his policies on education, the environment, and civil rights to be dangerously radical. When he demanded meaningful regulatory control over casino gaming and took decisive action to purge the industry of its mob connections, the establishment's resistance stiffened. Eventually, Sawyer's positions brought him into open conflict with special interests and led to a collision with the justice department of the federal government, but he never backed down.
Sawyer died on February 19, 1996, in Las Vegas
from complications of a debilitating stroke
suffered in 1993. His wife Bette died September 11, 2002. Both are buried at Palm Valley View Memorial Park in Las Vegas.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was the 21st Governor of Nevada from 1959 to 1967. He was a member of the Democratic Party
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...
.
Sawyer was born on December 14, 1918, in Twin Falls, Idaho
Twin Falls, Idaho
Twin Falls is the county seat and largest city of Twin Falls County, Idaho, United States. The population was 44,125 at the 2010 censusTwin Falls is the largest city of Idaho's Magic Valley region...
. He was the son of two osteopaths, Harry William and Bula Belle Cameron Sawyer (and the youngest of three boys). Sawyer served in the U.S. Army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war he married Bette Norene Hoge on August 1, 1946.
Education
Grant Sawyer attended Linfield CollegeLinfield College
Linfield College is an American private institution of higher learning located in McMinnville, Oregon, United States. As a four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts and sciences college with a campus in Portland, Oregon, it also has an adult degree program located in eight communities throughout the...
for two years and then enrolled at the University of Nevada at Reno, where he graduated in 1941. Sawyer then went to The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School, commonly referred to as GW Law, is the law school of The George Washington University. It was founded in 1825 and is the oldest law school in Washington, D.C. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a charter member of the...
but left to enlist in the army at the beginning of World War II. After his military service he enrolled at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, where he received a law degree in 1946.
Political career
He served as District Attorney for Elko County, NevadaElko County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 45,291 people, 15,638 households, and 11,493 families residing in the county. The population density was 3/sq mi . There were 18,456 housing units at an average density of 1/sq mi...
from 1950 to 1958. Sawyer served as the governor of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
from 1959 to 1966. He was defeated in his attempt at a third term by Paul Laxalt
Paul Laxalt
Paul Dominique Laxalt of Nevada was a former Republican District Attorney, Lieutenant Governor, Governor and U.S. Senator. In the media, the words "son of a Basque sheepherder" often accompanied his name. He was one of Ronald Reagan's closest friends in politics...
.
Governor Sawyer worked to push through civil rights policies and legislation, a difficult process in a state that had been accused of being "the Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
of the West."
He was responsible for the development of the modern casino regulatory system with the passage of the Gaming Control Act of 1959 and the formation of the Nevada Gaming Commission
Nevada Gaming Commission
The Nevada Gaming Commission is a Nevada state governmental agency involved in the regulation of casinos throughout the state, along with the Nevada Gaming Control Board. It was founded in 1959 by the Nevada Legislature....
. Sawyer swam against the tide of history when he unsuccessfully fought to prevent corporate ownership over Nevada casinos.
Sawyer was the first western governor to endorse the fledgling presidential campaign of Massachusetts Senator 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....
in 1960.
Commentators have reflected on Sawyer's career as follows: Grant Sawyer served two turbulent terms as Nevada's governor from 1959 to 1966. Sawyer was an advocate of progressive change. By the late fifties he had come so far from his start in the conservative political machine of Senator Patrick McCarran that many powerful Nevadans considered his policies on education, the environment, and civil rights to be dangerously radical. When he demanded meaningful regulatory control over casino gaming and took decisive action to purge the industry of its mob connections, the establishment's resistance stiffened. Eventually, Sawyer's positions brought him into open conflict with special interests and led to a collision with the justice department of the federal government, but he never backed down.
Later Years
In 1967 Sawyer co-founded Lionel Sawyer & Collins, as of 2011 the largest private law firm in Nevada.Sawyer died on February 19, 1996, in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
from complications of a debilitating stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
suffered in 1993. His wife Bette died September 11, 2002. Both are buried at Palm Valley View Memorial Park in Las Vegas.