Brian Schweitzer
| Brian Schweitzer | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 23rd Governor of Montana | |
|
In office January 3, 2005 – January 7, 2013 |
|
| Lieutenant | John Bohlinger |
| Preceded by | Judy Martz |
| Succeeded by | Steve Bullock |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Brian David Schweitzer September 4, 1955 Havre, Montana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Nancy Hupp |
| Education |
Colorado State University, Fort Collins (BS) Montana State University, Bozeman (MS) |
Brian David Schweitzer (born September 4, 1955) is an American politician who served as the 23rd Governor of Montana from January 5, 2005 to January 7, 2013. Schweitzer served for a time as chair of the Western Governors Association as well as the Democratic Governors Association. He also served as president of the Council of State Governments.
Schweitzer was born in Havre, Montana, the fourth of six children of Kathleen Helen (née McKernan) and Adam Schweitzer. His paternal grandparents were ethnic Germans from Kuchurhan in the Odessa Oblast (then in Russia, now in Ukraine); his maternal grandparents were Irish. He is a first cousin, once removed, of entertainer Lawrence Welk (Schweitzer's paternal grandmother was Welk's aunt).
Following his high school years at Holy Cross Abbey, Canon City, Colorado in 1973, Schweitzer earned his bachelor of science degree in international agronomy from Colorado State University in 1978 and a master of science in soil science from Montana State University, Bozeman in 1980.
Upon finishing school, Schweitzer worked as an irrigation developer on projects in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. He spent several years working in Libya and Saudi Arabia, and speaks Arabic. He returned to Montana in 1986 to launch a ranching and irrigation business in Whitefish.
Bill Clinton appointed Schweitzer to the United States Department of Agriculture as a member of the Montana USDA Farm Service Agency Committee, where he worked for seven years. While working for the USDA, he was appointed to the Montana Rural Development Board (1996) and the National Drought Task Force (1999).
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