Leslie Jensen: Difference between revisions

{{short description|American politician}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Leslie Jensen

|image = Leslie Jensen.jpg

|order = 15th [[Governor of South Dakota]]

|term_start = January 5, 1937

|term_end = January 3, 1939

|lieutenant = Donald McMurchie

|predecessor = [[Tom Berry (South Dakota politician)|Tom Berry]]

|successor = [[Harlan J. Bushfield]]

|birth_date = {{birth date|1892|9|15}}

|birth_place = [[Hot Springs, South Dakota]], U.S.

|death_date = {{death date and age|1964|12|14|1892|9|15}}

|death_place = [[Rapid City, South Dakota]], U.S.

|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]

|spouse = Elizabeth Ward

|profession ={{unbulleted list|Attorney|Businessman}}

| alma_mater =[[University of South Dakota]]

|religion =

}}

'''Leslie Jensen''' (September 15, 1892 – December 14, 1964) was an American businessman and [[politician]] who served as the [[List of Governors of South Dakota|15th Governor]] of [[South Dakota]].

==Early life and military career==

Leslie Jensen was born in [[Hot Springs, South Dakota]]. In 1916 and 1917, he was a [[Second Lieutenant]] in the [[South Dakota National Guard]] 4th Infantry Regiment during the 1916 Mexican border expedition. From 1917 to 1919 he was a Captain in the 147th Artillery Regiment with the [[American Expeditionary Forces]]. He received an [[LL.B.]] degree from the [[University of South Dakota School of Law]] in 1921. He married Elizabeth Ward and they had three children.<ref>{{cite web|title=Leslie Jensen|url=http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_south_dakota/col2-content/main-content-list/title_jensen_leslie.html|publisher=National Governors Association|accessdate=2 September 2012}}</ref>

From 1922 until 1934 Jensen was a collector for the [[Internal Revenue Service]]. He became president and general manager of the People's Telephone and Telegraph Company.<ref>''Governor Leslie Jensen''(Guide to the Governors Papers at the South Dakota State Archives)[http://www.sdhistory.org/arc/Governors/jensen.htm ]</ref>

In 1936, Jensen, a [[United States Republican Party|Republican]], defeated incumbent Governor [[Tom Berry (South Dakota politician)|Tom Berry]] as South Dakota Governor. He served from 1937 until 1939. During Jensen's single term as governor, the legislature created a state department to implement the new federal Social Security Act. In addition, despite the financial demands of the relief effort, the Jensen administration was able to balance South Dakota's general fund and eliminate a twenty-year-old overdraft as well as to reduce the state's bonded indebtedness and provide for refunding of rural credit bonds at lower rates of interest. In 1938, the South Dakota Division of the Motor Patrol was formed under Governor Jensen. [[Harlan J. Bushfield]], former Republican state chairman, succeeded Leslie Jensen as governor.<ref>''South Dakota Governor Leslie Jensen'' (National Governors Association) {{cite web |url=http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.94702e711043a03e9d28aca9501010a0/?vgnextoid=8f3436166f008010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=1d2bbe8f5f392010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextfmt=print |title=National Governors Association |accessdate=2009-12-03 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215152944/http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.94702e711043a03e9d28aca9501010a0/?vgnextoid=8f3436166f008010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=1d2bbe8f5f392010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextfmt=print |archivedate=2011-02-15 }}</ref>

In[[1938 United States Senate elections in South Dakota|1938]], Jensen opted to run for a seat in the [[U.S. Senate]], rather than seek reelection to the governorship. However, he was narrowly defeated by businessman [[John Chandler Gurney|Chan Gurney]] in the Republican primary.

In 1940 Jensen was called to active military duty for World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater as a Colonel commanding the 147th Artillery Regiment, later serving on the staff of the [[Sixth United States Army]]. He returned to Hot Springs after the war, remaining active until his death.

Jensen died in an automobile accident in Rapid City and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Hot Springs, Fall River County, South Dakota, US.

The Leslie Jensen Scenic Highway, part of [[US Route 18]], was named in his honor. In 1987, the [[Governor Leslie Jensen House]], his family residence was registered in the [[National Register of Historic Places]] listings in [[Fall River County, South Dakota]].

*{{Find a Grave|41668282}}

{{s-ppo}}

{{s-bef|before=William C. Allen}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[Governor of South Dakota]]|years=[[1936 South Dakota gubernatorial election|1936]]}}

{{s-aft|after=[[Harlan J. Bushfield]]}}

{{succession box |title=[[Governor of South Dakota]] | before=[[Tom Berry (South Dakota politician)|Tom Berry]] | after=[[Harlan J. Bushfield]] | years=1937&ndash;1939

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Republican Party governors of South Dakota]]

[[Category:United States Army personnelofWorld War I]]

[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]

[[Category:People from Hot Springs, South Dakota]]

[[Category:20th-century American politicians]]

[[Category:South Dakota National Guard personnel]]

[[Category:United States Army colonels]]

[[Category:Road incident deaths in South Dakota]]