Oscar Youngdahl
Encyclopedia
Oscar Ferdinand Youngdahl (October 13, 1893 – February 3, 1946) was an American lawyer
and politician
from Minnesota
. He was the older brother of Minnesota Governor
and United States federal judge
Luther Youngdahl
.
Youngdahl was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota
and attended local public schools. He began his undergraduate education at Hamline University
in St. Paul, Minnesota, but ultimately graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College
in 1916. Afterward, Youngdahl served as a high school principal in Ortonville, Minnesota
, also doubling as the school's drama and public-speaking instructor. In 1918, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served until 1919, attaining the rank of Seaman Second Class. Changing career direction again, Youngdahl began selling bonds and securities in the Twin Cities
while simultaneously attending law school. He graduated from William Mitchell College of Law
(then the Minnesota College of Law) in 1925 and began practicing in Minneapolis. He ran unsuccessfully for state attorney general eleven years later.
Youngdahl resurrected his political career in 1938, when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He won reelection in 1940, but failed to receive his Republican Party's nomination in 1942. Returning to Minneapolis, he practiced law until his death in 1946.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. He was the older brother of Minnesota Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
and United States federal judge
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
Luther Youngdahl
Luther Youngdahl
Luther Wallace Youngdahl was an American politician and judge from Minnesota. He served as an associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court from 1942 to 1946, then as Minnesota's 27th Governor from January 8, 1947 to September 27, 1951, and finally as a judge for the U.S...
.
Youngdahl was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
and attended local public schools. He began his undergraduate education at Hamline University
Hamline University
-Red Wing location :Hamline was named in honor of Leonidas Lent Hamline, a bishop of the Methodist Church whose interest in the frontier led him to donate $25,000 toward the building of an institution of higher learning in what was then the territory of Minnesota. Today, a statue of Bishop Hamline...
in St. Paul, Minnesota, but ultimately graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Adolphus College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in St. Peter, Minnesota, United States. A coeducational, four-year, residential institution, it was founded in 1862 by Swedish Americans. To this day the school is firmly...
in 1916. Afterward, Youngdahl served as a high school principal in Ortonville, Minnesota
Ortonville, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,158 people, 923 households, and 594 families residing in the city. The population density was 635.8 people per square mile . There were 1,125 housing units at an average density of 331.4 per square mile...
, also doubling as the school's drama and public-speaking instructor. In 1918, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served until 1919, attaining the rank of Seaman Second Class. Changing career direction again, Youngdahl began selling bonds and securities in the Twin Cities
Twin cities
Twin cities are a special case of two cities or urban centres which are founded in close geographic proximity and then grow into each other over time...
while simultaneously attending law school. He graduated from William Mitchell College of Law
William Mitchell College of Law
William Mitchell College of Law, or WMCL, is a private, independent law school located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Accredited by the American Bar Association , it offers full and part-time legal education in pursuit of the Juris Doctor degree....
(then the Minnesota College of Law) in 1925 and began practicing in Minneapolis. He ran unsuccessfully for state attorney general eleven years later.
Youngdahl resurrected his political career in 1938, when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He won reelection in 1940, but failed to receive his Republican Party's nomination in 1942. Returning to Minneapolis, he practiced law until his death in 1946.