George S. Mickelson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George S. Mickelson
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Mickelson in May 1989
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| 28th Governor of South Dakota | |
| In office January 6, 1987 – April 19, 1993 |
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| Lieutenant | Walter Dale Miller |
| Preceded by | Bill Janklow |
| Succeeded by | Walter Dale Miller |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
George Speaker Mickelson
January 31, 1941 Mobridge, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Died | April 19, 1993 (aged 52) Otter Creek Township, Jackson County, Iowa, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Plane crash |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Linda McCahren |
| Relatives | George Theodore Mickelson (father) Mark Mickelson (son) |
| Education | University of South Dakota (BA, JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
George Speaker Mickelson (born January 31, 1941 – died April 19, 1993) was an American politician. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War. George Mickelson served as the 28th governor of South Dakota. He was governor from 1987 until he passed away in 1993. His death happened in a plane crash in Iowa.
His father, George T. Mickelson, was also the governor of South Dakota. He served from 1947 to 1951. George S. Mickelson and his father are the only father-son pair to have both been governor of South Dakota. They are part of a well-known political family from South Dakota.
Early Life and Education
George Mickelson was born in Mobridge, South Dakota. His grandfather had moved to the United States from Norway. His parents were George Theodore Mickelson and Madge Mickelson. His father was the Governor of South Dakota, and his mother was the First Lady, from 1947 to 1951.
George Mickelson went to the University of South Dakota. He earned a business degree in 1963. He then got a law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1965. He was part of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity at the university. After college, he joined the United States Army. He served in the Vietnam War. George Mickelson married Linda McCahren. They had three children: Amy, David, and Mark.
Public Service and Tragic Accident
George Mickelson worked in public service for many years. He was an Assistant Attorney General for South Dakota from 1967 to 1968. Later, he was the State Attorney for Brookings County from 1971 to 1974. In 1974, he was elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives. He served there for six years. For the last two years, he was the Speaker of the House.
In 1986, George Mickelson was elected governor. He was reelected for a second term four years later. On April 19, 1993, Governor Mickelson was on a state-owned airplane. There were eight people on board. They were returning to South Dakota after a trip to Ohio. The plane was a Mitsubishi MU-2 turboprop. It reported engine problems while flying near Dubuque, Iowa. The plane then crashed into a farm silo. This happened about four miles south of Zwingle, Iowa. Sadly, everyone on the plane died. After his death, Walter Dale Miller, who was the Lieutenant Governor, became the new governor.
Lasting Legacy
Many places and awards are named after George S. Mickelson. This helps people remember his service.
- George S. Mickelson Middle School is in Brookings, South Dakota.
- The George S. Mickelson Trail is a popular trail in the Black Hills.
- The George S. Mickelson Center for the Neurosciences is in Yankton, South Dakota.
- The George S. Mickelson Education Center was built in 1990. It is at Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
- The South Dakota Office of Tourism gives out the George S. Mickelson Great Service Award every year.
- The University of South Dakota offers the George S. Mickelson Scholarship. This is a very important scholarship. It gives full tuition to talented South Dakota students.
See also
- George S. Mickelson Trail
