William L. Guy

This article is about the former Governor of North Dakota. For other people named William Guy, see William Guy (disambiguation).

William Guy
Guy in 1968
Chair of the National Governors Association
In office July 4, 1966 – October 16, 1967
Preceded by	John Reed
Succeeded by	John Volpe
26th Governor of North Dakota
In office January 4, 1961 – January 2, 1973
Lieutenant	Ike Hagen Frank Wenstrom Charles Tighe Richard Larsen
Preceded by	John Davis
Succeeded by	Art Link
Member of the North Dakota House of Representatives
In office 1959–1961
Personal details
Born	William Lewis Guy (1919-09-30)September 30, 1919 Devils Lake, North Dakota, U.S.
Died	April 26, 2013(2013-04-26) (aged 93) West Fargo, North Dakota, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Jean Mason (1943–2013)
Education	North Dakota State University (BS) University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MS)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Battles/wars	World War II

William Lewis Guy (September 30, 1919 – April 26, 2013) was an American politician who was the 26th governor of North Dakota from 1961 to 1973. Guy was North Dakota's longest-serving governor in state history, serving two consecutive two-year terms and two four-year terms in office.

Biography

Guy was born in Devils Lake, North Dakota. After receiving his B.S. degree from North Dakota Agricultural College (NDAC), where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Blue Key National Honor Society. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II as a gunnery officer, achieving the rank of lieutenant. He received a master's degree from the University of Minnesota, and then became the assistant county agent for Cass County. With his wife, the former Jean Mason, whom he married on January 30, 1943, Guy began farming at Amenia, North Dakota, in 1948 and taught agricultural economics at NDAC during the winter quarters.

He served in the North Dakota House of Representatives for one term from 1959 to 1961. In the legislature, Guy served as assistant minority leader. He died on the morning of April 26, 2013 at West Fargo, North Dakota. He was 93. He had Alzheimer's disease.

Governor of North Dakota

His election as governor on the Democratic-Nonpartisan League ticket finally established the two-party system in North Dakota. As governor, Guy served two two-year terms and two four-year terms. He began modernizing state government by implementing the new Office of Management and Budget. During his terms, the state hospital's patient load was reduced from 2,600 to 600 and eight regional mental health districts were established. Guy organized the five-state Old West Trail Tourist Loop. The interstate highway system, 350 Minuteman missiles, the anti-ballistic missiles site, and Garrison Diversion were large federal projects that came to North Dakota during Guy's watch. He was instrumental in bringing three sugar beet refineries and large scale coal-fired electrical generation to North Dakota. Governor Guy was selected by President Lyndon B. Johnson to observe the first presidential elections in South Vietnam. He originated the concept of an interpretive North Dakota Heritage Center and promoted its construction. The Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award was established by Governor Guy as North Dakota's highest recognition. Guy organized and served as the first chairman of the Midwest Governors' Conference in 1962. In 1966, he was elected chairman of the National Governors' Conference. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate in 1974.

See also

• North Dakota United States Senate election, 1974
• Politics of North Dakota

External links

• National Governors Association