M. Clifford Townsend
| M. Clifford Townsend | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 35th Governor of Indiana | |
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In office January 11, 1937 – January 13, 1941 |
|
| Lieutenant | Henry F. Schricker |
| Preceded by | Paul V. McNutt |
| Succeeded by | Henry F. Schricker |
| 33rd Lieutenant Governor of Indiana | |
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In office January 9, 1933 – January 13, 1937 |
|
| Governor | Paul V. McNutt |
| Preceded by | Edgar D. Bush |
| Succeeded by | Henry F. Schricker |
| Member of the Indiana House of Representatives | |
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In office 1925–1929 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Maurice Clifford Townsend August 11, 1884 Blackford County, Indiana |
| Died | November 11, 1954 (aged 70) Hartford City, Indiana |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Nora Adele Harris |
| Alma mater | Marion College |
| Religion | Methodist |
Maurice Clifford Townsend (August 11, 1884 – November 11, 1954) was the 35th Governor of the U.S. state of Indiana from 1937 to 1941. During his term he led relief efforts during and after the Great Flood of 1937.
Maurice Clifford Townsend, known as Clifford to his friends and family, was born on a farm in Blackford County, Indiana to David and Lydia Glancy Townsend on August 11, 1884. He had one sister, Myrtle, and the two were raised on a country farm. After completing high school in 1901 he worked as a teamster in the oil fields during the Indiana Gas Boom, and later in a factory. In 1907 he entered Marion College in Grant County. After working as a teacher for six years to pay for his education, he graduated in 1907. He then taught in the common schools, and served as school superintendent for different counties between 1909 and 1919.
He entered politics as a representative in the Indiana House in 1923. His single term in the legislature was focused mostly on reforming the state's tax code, an issue he worked on up through his term as governor. In 1928 he ran an unsuccessful campaign for Congress, but was defeated. He then returned to education, serving again as a school superintendent and on the executive committee of the Indiana's Teachers Association in 1929. Townsend's experience in education made Paul V. McNutt consider him as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor and helped him to win the nomination at the state's Democratic convention in 1932.
He was elected the 33rd Lieutenant Governor on the Democratic ticket and served from 1933 until 1937. The position of Lieutenant Governor was dramatically altered during his term. Previously, the position received only a token salary, only required active work during legislative sessions, which amounted to sixty days every two years. The position was granted significantly more power after the passage of the 1932 Executive Reorganization Act when the position was made head of the state's agricultural department and assigning him other administrative duties. The change put a large number of patronage jobs under his control.
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