Milward L. Simpson | |
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United States Senator from Wyoming |
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In office November 6, 1962 – January 3, 1967 |
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Preceded by | John J. Hickey |
Succeeded by | Clifford Hansen |
23rd Governor of Wyoming | |
In office January 3, 1955 – January 5, 1959 |
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Preceded by | Clifford Joy Rogers |
Succeeded by | John J. Hickey |
Member of the Wyoming House of Representatives | |
In office 1926–1927 |
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Personal details | |
Born |
Milward Lee Simpson November 12, 1897 Jackson, Wyoming, U.S. |
Died | June 10, 1993 Cody, Wyoming, U.S. |
(aged 95)
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Lorna Kooi Simpson |
Children |
Pete Simpson Alan K. Simpson |
Alma mater |
University of Wyoming Harvard University Law School |
Profession | Attorney; Businessman |
Military service | |
Service/branch | United States Army |
Battles/wars | World War I |
Milward Lee Simpson (November 12, 1897 – June 10, 1993) was an American politician who served as a U.S. Senator and as the 23rd Governor of Wyoming.
Simpson was born in Jackson in Teton County in northwestern Wyoming, the son of Margaret (née Burnett) and William Lee Simpson. He attended the public schools of Wood River, Meeteetse, and Cody. In 1921, he graduated from the University of Wyoming at Laramie in Albany County. While a student at UW, he was both an athlete and a member of the university's debate team. During World War I, Simpson served as a second lieutenant in the infantry, United States Army. From 1921 to 1925, he attended Harvard University Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1926 and practiced law in Cody until 1955 when he became governor of Wyoming.
Simpson served as a member of the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1926 to 1927. He was a member of the board of trustees of the University of Wyoming in 1939 and president of the board from 1943 to 1954. He was a member of the National Association of Governing Boards of State Universities and Allied Institutions and served as president of the body from 1952 to 1953.
Milward Simpson ran for the U.S. Senate against Joseph C. O'Mahoney in 1940, but was defeated 58.7% to 41.3%. Simpson was narrowly elected governor in November 1954. He defeated the Democrat William Jack, 56,275 (50.5 percent) to 55,163 (49.5 percent). Simpson was unseated after a single term in 1958, a heavily Democratic year nationally, after a single term in office by John J. Hickey of Rawlins in Carbon County, 55,070 (48.9 percent) to 52,488 (46.6 percent). He resumed his law practice in 1959.