Phil Saunders

Phil Saunders
19th Attorney General of South Dakota
In office
1955–1959
GovernorJoe Foss
Preceded byRalph A. Dunham
Succeeded byParnell J. Donahue
Personal details
Born(1920-09-10)September 10, 1920
Milbank, South Dakota, U.S.
DiedMarch 15, 1997(1997-03-15) (aged 76)
Political partyRepublican
Alma materNorthwestern University School of Law
ProfessionAttorney

Phil Saunders (September 10, 1920 – March 15, 1997) was an American politician and soldier who fought in World War II,[1] an American attorney and 19th Attorney General of South Dakota from 1955 to 1959. Born in Milbank, South Dakota, he was married to the niece of U.S. Senator Francis Case.[2]

Career

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Saunders was a Republican.

Saunders graduated from the Northwestern University School of Law.[3]

1954 Attorney General election

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On July 27, 1954, Saunders was nominated by acclimation, something Governor Sigurd Anderson stated he thought that was the first time the nomination for Attorney General for a first term without a contest.[4] Saunders general election opponent was Democrat Fred Nichols.[5] Saunders was elected Attorney General in 1954.[6]

1956 Attorney General election

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On July 16, 1956, Saunders was again nominated by acclimation in his re-election bid at the state convention in Pierre.[7] Saunders defeated Democrat William H. Heuermann by obtaining 156,149 votes to Heuermann's 127,988 votes. Saunders was re-elected Attorney General in 1956.[8]

1958 gubernatorial election

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In 1958, Saunders ran for Governor of South Dakota. He defeated L. Roy Houck for the Republican nomination,[9] and lost to Ralph Herseth in the general election.

References

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  1. ^ Deadwood Pioneer-Times, October 28, 154, page 4
  2. ^ Deadwood Pioneer-Times, October 28, 154, page 4
  3. ^ "Blue Book Legislative Manual, 1955 & 1957 editions". sdsos.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  4. ^ Rapid City Journal, July 27, 1954, Page 1
  5. ^ Deadwood Pioneer-Times, October 28, 154, page 4
  6. ^ "Blue Book Legislative Manual, 1955 edition". sdsos.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  7. ^ The Daily Plainsman, July 17, 1956, page 1
  8. ^ "Blue Book Legislative Manual, 1957 edition". sdsos.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  9. ^ "4 Jun 1958, Page 1 - Argus-Leader at". Newspapers.com. 1958-06-04. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Attorney General of South Dakota
1954, 1956
Succeeded by
George Wuest
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of South Dakota
1958
Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by Attorney General of South Dakota
1955-1959
Succeeded by