Governor’s Plaque

Governor George T. Mickelson

Governor’s Plaque

The town has the distinct honor of having the only father/son governors elected to the great State of South Dakota. George T. Mickelson served as the 18th Governor and his son, George S. Mickelson, served as the state’s 28th Governor. On the highway north of town is a dedicatory plaque to two South Dakota Governors – Governor George T. and his son George S. Mickelson, both from Selby.

George T. Mickelson was born on a farm near Selby on July 23, 1903. He was ninth of ten children of an emigrant Norwegian father, George M. Mickelson, and a mother Emma L. Craig, and German ancestry. They settled a homestead in Walworth County in 1884. George received his elementary and secondary education in the Selby schools. He was orphaned at the age of 15 years old. He lived with his older brother and sister after his mother’s death, and during balance of his high school years and during this college vacation, he worked on their farms, sold insurance, and otherwise earned money at the University of South Dakota in 1921 and was graduated from its law school in 1927.

On June 18, 1927, he was admitted to the South Dakota Bar and returned to Selby as the junior partner in the law firm of Smith and Mickelson. At Smith’s death in 1933, he continued as a sole practitioner until No, 1945, when Fred J. Homeyer became his partner and the firm practiced under the name of Mickelson and Homeyer.

George married his high school classmate, Madge Ellen Turner, the daughter of George and Emma Turner on Apr. 6, 1928. Madge was born Sept. 12, 1903 in Jasper County, IA and came to South Dakota at the age of six years with her father, mother two brothers and sister. She received her elementary education in a rural school SW of Selby and attended Northern State Teachers’ College in Aberdeen. She taught school in Wakonda and Colton for five years. George and Madge had four children: Janice, Mrs. John E Carmody, Sioux Falls; Lavon, Mrs. V. James Meyers,  West Lafayette IN; Patricia, Mrs. Thomas C. Adam, Pierre, and George S. Mickelson, (1/31/41 – 4/19/93). 

George’s public service spanned the years from shortly after his graduation from law school to his death in 1965. While a resident of Selby he served as State’s Attorney and as a member of its Board of Speaker of the House during his final term. During his periods his son was born and the House and Senate passed a resolution naming him George Speaker. From 1942 through 1946, he served as South Dakota’s Attorney General.

In the 1946 primary election, George won the Republican nomination for Governor over two other candidates, one a two-term incumbent. George was elected Governor in the 1946 general election, and ultimately served two terms completing them in 1953. He was a popular Governor, his practical experience gained during 14 years in local, county and state government service was a valuable asset during his two terms as governor.  

Governor George T. Mickelson’s major accomplishments during his administration included bonus payments to veterans, increased highway construction, and increased compensation for public employees. He also worked aggressively for Missouri River development.

After completing his two terms as Governor, George returned to private life but in 1952 came out of political retirement and led the South Dakota campaign for the nomination of Dwight De Eisenhower as Republican candidate for President.

In Jan 1954, George was appointed as a United Sates District Judge by President Eisenhower,  Judge Mickelson moved his family to Sioux Falls in June 1954. His broad background at nearly every level of state government served him well in the administration of justice. He conducted an orderly and dignified court without any seeming effort and his presence on bench commanded the respect of all.

George Speaker was born at Mobridge on Jan. 31. 1941. His elementary education began in Pierre, continued in Selby and was completed when he was graduated from Washington High School in Sioux Falls. After graduating from high school, he attained his BS degree at the University of South Dakota. In 1963 he married Linda McCahren, as classmate in high school and at the University. Their children are Mark, Amy Mickelson and David. George attended USD’s School of Law gradating with a Juris Doctorate Degree in 1965.

That summer he entered the service as a 2nd Lieutenant and served in the Army in different capacities in the United States and Vietnam for two years. He was discharged as a Captain. He became the Assistant Attorney General of South Dakota in 1967. From 1969 through 1987 he had a law practice in Brookings while also serving in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 1975 through 1980. During his time as governor, he worked to improve education, increase the minimum wage, promote health care reform, and solve water issues. The yearlong centennial celebration for the state of South Dakota occurred in 1989, and the state lottery was also introduced during his time in office. Governor Mickelson created the Century of Reconciliation and the Revolving Economic Development and Initiative Fund. Governor Mickelson’s term ended on April 19, 1993 when the plane he was flying in crashed, killing him and six others, in Dubuque, Iowa.

Published in the Centennial, Selby SD 1900-2000