Ted Schwinden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ted Schwinden
|
|
|---|---|
| 19th Governor of Montana | |
| In office January 5, 1981 – January 2, 1989 |
|
| Lieutenant | George Turman Gordon McOmber |
| Preceded by | Thomas Lee Judge |
| Succeeded by | Stan Stephens |
| 23rd Lieutenant Governor of Montana | |
| In office January 3, 1977 – January 5, 1981 |
|
| Governor | Thomas Lee Judge |
| Preceded by | Bill Christiansen |
| Succeeded by | George Turman |
| Member of the Montana House of Representatives | |
| In office 1959-1963 |
|
| Preceded by | Chris S. Tange |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 31, 1925 Wolf Point, Montana, U.S. |
| Died | October 7, 2023 (aged 98) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Jean Christianson
(m. 1946; died 2007) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Montana |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1944-1946 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Theodore Schwinden (August 31, 1925 – October 7, 2023) was an American politician. He served as the 19th Governor of Montana from 1981 to 1989. He had previously served as the 23rd Lieutenant Governor of Montana and a Member of the Montana House of Representatives.
Biography
Schwinden was born in Wolf Point, Montana, on his family's farm between Wolf Point and Poplar, on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Schwinden was a valedictorian at his high school. He enlisted in the United States Army and served in both the both the European and Pacific theaters in World War II. Schwinden left the army in 1946. Schwinden earned a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree from the University of Montana.
Career
A member of the Democratic Party, Schwinden was elected to the Montana House of Representatives in 1958, defeating Republican incumbent Chris S. Tange to represent Roosevelt County. Schwinden completed two terms in the House but was unsuccessful in his campaign for a third term. He was elected and was named to the Legislative Council in 1959. He served as the House minority whip in 1961. In 1965, he was elected president of the Grain Growers Association, and in 1969 he was named Commissioner of State Lands by governor Forrest H. Anderson. He was reappointed in 1973 and served until April 1976. Schwinden resigned to campaign for Lieutenant Governor and was elected the 23rd Lieutenant Governor of Montana, serving under Governor Thomas Lee Judge. He served as Lieutenant Governor from 1977 to 1981.
Schwinden defeated Judge in the Democratic primary in 1980. He then comfortably beat Republican Jack Ramirez in that year's gubernatorial election to become the 19th Governor of Montana. He was re-elected governor in 1984, getting the victory over State Senator Pat M. Goodover. Hallmarks of Schwinden's governorship were his "Build Montana" economic plan and popular traveling "Capital for a Day" events, and was known for leading Montana through it's economic difficulties. Schwinden took pride in being a governor who maintained an open and attentive approach to the needs and concerns of the public. Despite favorable polling in 1988, Schwinden chose not to seek a third term as governor, staying true to his promise of serving only two terms in office.
Personal life
He was married to Jean Christianson in 1946; she died from cancer on March 24, 2007, at the age of 81. Schwinden and his wife had three children, two sons, Mike and Dore, and a daughter, Chrys.
On October 7, 2023, Schwinden died in Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of 98. He was survived by his three children, six grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
