Lee Sherman Dreyfus
| Lee S. Dreyfus | |
|---|---|
|
|
| 40th Governor of Wisconsin | |
|
In office January 4, 1979 – January 3, 1983 |
|
| Lieutenant | Russell A. Olson |
| Preceded by | Martin J. Schreiber |
| Succeeded by | Tony Earl |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Lee Sherman Dreyfus June 20, 1926 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | January 2, 2008 (aged 81) Waukesha, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Resting place | Prairie Home Cemetery Waukesha, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Joyce Dreyfus |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–Madison |
| Profession | Educator |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Lee Sherman Dreyfus (pronounced DRAY-fuss; June 20, 1926 – January 2, 2008) was an American politician and member of the Republican Party who served as the 40th Governor of Wisconsin from January 4, 1979 to January 3, 1983.
Prior to his election, he was the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point.
Dreyfus was born and raised in Milwaukee, the son of Clare (Bluett) and Woods Orlow Dreyfus. He attended Washington High School. His parents were active in the community and his father was an on-air personality for WISN radio (Young Lee was featured several times as a young actor and singer on the station). Dreyfus' mother was a longtime member of the Milwaukee School Board, serving for 25 years.
Dreyfus enlisted in the United States Navy after high school, where he learned to be an electronics technician and worked on radar repair. He was sent to the Pacific during World War II and stayed there until the war was over. After the war, he enrolled at what is now the University of Wisconsin–Madison under the GI Bill. During this time, he met Joyce Unke, whom he married in 1947. That same year, he became a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Dreyfus earned a bachelor's degree in 1949, a master's degree in 1952 and a doctorate in communication in 1957.
Dreyfus went on to Wayne State University in Detroit, where he became general manager of the radio station and helped develop Wayne State's mass communications department. In 1962, he returned to Madison as manager of WHA-TV, and a professor of speech and broadcasting.
In 1967, Dreyfus became the president of what was known as Wisconsin State University-Stevens Point. In 1972, he became chancellor of the university, which was merged into the University of Wisconsin system and renamed University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point. Dreyfus made a point of being accessible to students, often stopping at local bars to chat with them. It was during that era that he adopted the trademark red vest as university chancellor in order to be recognizable and accessible to students on campus.
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