George A. Sinner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Sinner
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| 29th Governor of North Dakota | |
| In office January 1, 1985 – December 15, 1992 |
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| Lieutenant | Ruth Meiers Lloyd Omdahl |
| Preceded by | Allen I. Olson |
| Succeeded by | Ed Schafer |
| Member of the North Dakota Senate | |
| In office 1962–1966 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
George Albert Sinner
May 29, 1928 Fargo, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Died | March 9, 2018 (aged 89) Fargo, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Jane Baute |
| Education | Saint John's University, Minnesota (BA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1950–1951 |
| Unit | Air National Guard |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
George Albert Sinner (May 29, 1928 – March 9, 2018) was an American politician. He served as the governor of North Dakota from 1985 to 1992. A governor is the leader of a state government.
Sinner served two four-year terms. He was the last governor from the North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party for a long time.
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Early Life and Education
George Sinner was born in Fargo, North Dakota on May 29, 1928. He grew up in Casselton, North Dakota. He was the youngest of four children. His father, Albert Sinner, was a farmer.
George Sinner went to Saint John's Preparatory School in Minnesota. He graduated from there in 1946. In 1950, he earned a degree in philosophy from College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University.
He also served in the United States Air National Guard from 1950 to 1951. This was before he started his career in politics. Later in his life, he received special honorary degrees from several universities.
Political Career and Public Service
George Sinner began his political career in the late 1950s. He was elected to the North Dakota Senate in 1962. He served one four-year term until 1966.
Sinner came from a farming background. He led the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association Board from 1975 to 1979. During this time, he helped fund and build a special greenhouse complex. This complex was for the Northern Crops Institute at North Dakota State University.
He was also a member of many other important groups. These included the North Dakota Broadcasting Council. He also served on the State Board of Higher Education. While on this board, he helped create the "Tri-college" system. This system allows students at NDSU, MSUM, and Concordia College to take classes at any of the three schools.
Serving as Governor of North Dakota
George Sinner was elected governor of North Dakota in 1984. He was reelected for a second term in 1988. There was a small disagreement about when his first term officially started. The North Dakota Supreme Court decided his term began on January 1, 1985.
During his time as governor, North Dakota faced tough times. The state went through a farming crisis in the 1980s. In 1989, North Dakota celebrated its 100th birthday as a state.
The North Dakota National Guard was called to serve in the Gulf War in 1991. This was part of a mission called Operation Desert Storm. Governor Sinner also made North Dakota the first state to have a no-smoking policy in its capitol building. He also once arranged an emergency flight to deliver a donor heart for a baby.
Sinner decided not to run for a third term as governor. Ed Schafer from the Republican Party took over as governor after him.
After His Governorship
After his two terms as governor, Sinner continued to work. He became the Vice President of Public and Government Relations for the Crystal Sugar Company. He also stayed involved with his family's farming business near Casselton.
His son, George B. Sinner, also became a politician. He served in the North Dakota Senate from 2013 to 2017.
Personal Life and Family
George Sinner married Elizabeth Jane "Jane" Baute on August 10, 1951. They had ten children together.
He passed away on March 9, 2018, at the age of 89. He died in Fargo, North Dakota. At the time of his death, he was the last living North Dakota governor from the Democratic-NPL party.
