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 1958 |
|
Personal details | |
Born |
Wolf Point, Montana, U.S. |
August 31, 1925
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Jean Schwinden |
Alma mater | University of Montana |
Theodore "Ted" Schwinden (born August 31, 1925) is an American politician. He served as the 23rd Lieutenant Governor of Montana and the 19th Governor of Montana.
Schwinden was born in Wolf Point, Montana. He enlisted in the United States Army and served until 1946. Schwinden earned a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree from the University of Montana.
A member of the United States Democratic Party, Schwinden was elected to the Montana House of Representatives in 1958. 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, 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 1976 to 1980.
Schwinden defeated his predecessor in the Democratic primary in 1980 to become the 19th Governor of Montana. He was re-elected governor in 1984. Hallmarks of Schwinden's governorship were his "Build Montana" economic plan and popular traveling "Capital for a Day" events.
His wife, former Montana First Lady Jean Schwinden, died from cancer on March 24, 2007, at the age of 81. Schwinden and his wife have three children.