Walter Samuel Goodland
Encyclopedia
Walter Samuel Goodland was an American
politician and the 31st Governor
of Wisconsin
. He was a Republican
. He attended Lawrence University
in Appleton, Wisconsin
.
Goodland, born in Sharon
, Wisconsin
, was a lawyer and newspaper owner; he had owned a newspaper in Michigan
in Iron Mountain
. Goodland spent time on the Gogebic Range
as a young man. He came to the range and began practicing law in Wakefield, Michigan
. There he began the Wakefield Bulletin, one the early daily newspapers of the range. Later, he established the Ironwood Times, disposing of it in May 1895 to Bennett and Green. The Ironwood Times continued to publish until May 1946. Goodland served in the Wisconsin State Senate
. From 1911 to 1915, he was mayor
of Racine, Wisconsin
. From 1939 to 1943, Walter Goodland was lieutenant governor
.
In 1942, he was reelected lieutenant governor
. On December 7, 1942, Governor-elect Orland Steen Loomis
died before his inaugural. The Wisconsin Supreme Court
ruled that Lieutenant Governor Goodland would serve Orland Loomis's term as acting governor
, overriding the view of Governor Julius Heil
that he should continue as Governor of Wisconsin. Goodland was initially paid as the Lieutenant Governor, with a salary of $1,500 a year. He earned a six dollar daily bonus for being acting governor while the legislature was in session, and a five dollar daily bonus when it was not.
In 1944, Walter Goodland was elected Governor of Wisconsin
, and in 1946 he was reelected. Walter Goodland died of a heart attack on Wednesday, March 12, 1947 while in office in Madison, Wisconsin
, at age 84.
According to Guinness World Records
, Walter Goodland was the oldest individual to date to serve as Governor of any state in the union.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and the 31st Governor
Governor of Wisconsin
The Governor of Wisconsin is the highest executive authority in the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The position was first filled by Nelson Dewey on June 7, 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state...
of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. He was a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. He attended Lawrence University
Lawrence University
Lawrence University is a selective, private liberal arts college with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, in Appleton, Wisconsin. Lawrence University is known for its rigorous academic environment. Founded in 1847, the first classes were held on November 12, 1849...
in Appleton, Wisconsin
Appleton, Wisconsin
Appleton is a city in Outagamie, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is situated on the Fox River, 30 miles southwest of Green Bay and 100 miles north of Milwaukee. Appleton is the county seat of Outagamie County. The population was 78,086 at the 2010 census...
.
Goodland, born in Sharon
Sharon, Wisconsin
Sharon is a village in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,549 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Sharon.-Notable people:* Walter Samuel Goodland, Governor of Wisconsin, was born in Sharon....
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, was a lawyer and newspaper owner; he had owned a newspaper in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
in Iron Mountain
Iron Mountain, Michigan
Iron Mountain is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,154. It is the county seat of Dickinson County, in the state's Upper Peninsula....
. Goodland spent time on the Gogebic Range
Gogebic Range
The Gogebic Range extends from Lake Gogebic to the Wisconsin border in the east. It is located at the far western tip of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on the south shore of Lake Superior. It refers both to the range of mountains that runs along the route and to the surrounding communities that...
as a young man. He came to the range and began practicing law in Wakefield, Michigan
Wakefield, Michigan
Wakefield is a city in Gogebic County in the US state of Michigan. It is located in the western Upper Peninsula. The population was 1,851 at the 2010 census....
. There he began the Wakefield Bulletin, one the early daily newspapers of the range. Later, he established the Ironwood Times, disposing of it in May 1895 to Bennett and Green. The Ironwood Times continued to publish until May 1946. Goodland served in the Wisconsin State Senate
Wisconsin State Senate
The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly...
. From 1911 to 1915, he was mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin
Racine is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 82,196...
. From 1939 to 1943, Walter Goodland was 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"...
.
In 1942, he was reelected 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"...
. On December 7, 1942, Governor-elect Orland Steen Loomis
Orland Steen Loomis
Orland Steen Loomis was an American lawyer and governor-elect of Wisconsin. He was born in Mauston, Wisconsin and was a member of the Progressive Party....
died before his inaugural. The Wisconsin Supreme Court
Wisconsin Supreme Court
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is the highest appellate court in the state of Wisconsin. The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over original actions, appeals from lower courts, and regulation or administration of the practice of law in Wisconsin.-Location:...
ruled that Lieutenant Governor Goodland would serve Orland Loomis's term 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...
, overriding the view of Governor Julius Heil
Julius P. Heil
Julius Peter Heil was the 30th Governor of Wisconsin from 1939 to 1943. A Republican, he was born in Düssmund an der Mosel, Germany, and immigrated to the United States in 1881. In 1901, he founded the Heil Company in Milwaukee, which fabricated steel tank cars. He served two two-year terms as...
that he should continue as Governor of Wisconsin. Goodland was initially paid as the Lieutenant Governor, with a salary of $1,500 a year. He earned a six dollar daily bonus for being acting governor while the legislature was in session, and a five dollar daily bonus when it was not.
In 1944, Walter Goodland was elected Governor of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, and in 1946 he was reelected. Walter Goodland died of a heart attack on Wednesday, March 12, 1947 while in office in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, at age 84.
According to Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
, Walter Goodland was the oldest individual to date to serve as Governor of any state in the union.