C. Elmer Anderson

C. Elmer Anderson
28th Governor of Minnesota
In office September 27, 1951 – January 5, 1955
Lieutenant	Ancher Nelsen Donald O. Wright
Preceded by	Luther Youngdahl
Succeeded by	Orville Freeman
30th and 33rd Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
In office January 2, 1945 – September 27, 1951
Governor	Edward J. Thye Luther W. Youngdahl
Preceded by	Archie H. Miller
Succeeded by	Ancher Nelsen
In office January 2, 1939 – January 4, 1943
Governor	Harold E. Stassen
Preceded by	Gottfrid Lindsten
Succeeded by	Edward John Thye
Mayor of Brainerd, Minnesota
In office 1976–1983
Personal details
Born	Clyde Elmer Anderson (1912-03-16)March 16, 1912 Brainerd, Minnesota, U.S.
Died	January 22, 1998(1998-01-22) (aged 85) Brainerd, Minnesota, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Lillian Otterstad
Alma mater	University of Minnesota Medical School (Did not graduate)
Profession	politician

Clyde Elmer Anderson (March 16, 1912 – January 22, 1998) was an American politician who served as the 28th governor of Minnesota from September 27, 1951 to January 5, 1955. Anderson also served as the lieutenant governor of Minnesota from 1939 to 1943 and again from 1945 to 1951.

Life and career[]

Anderson was born in Brainerd, Minnesota in 1912. His father died when he was 14, forcing him to get a job with a magazine and newspaper company to help support the family. He attended Brainerd High School and spent two quarters at the University of Minnesota studying medicine before running out of tuition money and returning home to continue working.^[1][2]

In 1938, he ran for lieutenant governor of Minnesota with Republican gubernatorial candidate Harold Stassen and won. At 31 and 26 years old, respectively, Stassen and Anderson were the youngest governor and lieutenant governor in state history. Anderson was reelected lieutenant governor five more times under three different governors. He holds the record for the most total years served as the state's lieutenant governor.^[1][2]

In September 1951, Anderson became governor when Luther Youngdahl resigned to become a federal judge in Washington, D.C. He won election to a full term in 1952 but was defeated by Orville Freeman two years later. After leaving the governor's office, he served as mayor of Nisswa from 1961 to 1963 and as mayor of Brainerd from 1976 to 1986. He died in Brainerd in 1998. The C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway is named in his honor.^[1][2]

References[]

External links[]

• The C. Elmer Anderson Papers are available for research use at the Minnesota Historical Society.
• C. Elmer Anderson at Find a Grave