Gordon Mydland

Gordon J. Mydland (born May 12, 1922) is a combat veteran, a former State Senator, former states attorney, former Attorney General, former South Dakota state Circuit Court Judge.

Gordon Mydland
Member of the South Dakota Senate
from the 13th, 6th district
In office
1963–1968
23rd Attorney General of South Dakota
In office
1969–1973
GovernorFrank Farrar
Richard F. Kneip
Preceded byFrank Farrar
Succeeded byKermit A. Sande
Circuit Court Judge
Personal details
Born (1922-05-12) May 12, 1922
Lake Preston, South Dakota
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Lorrie Grange
(m. May 29, 1958–2000; her death)
Alma materUniversity of South Dakota (BS, JD)
OccupationAttorney

Early life and education

Born in Lake Preston in 1922, Mydland attended South Dakota State University for a Bachelor of Science degree and the University of South Dakota School of Law for his LL.B degree.[1]

Career

Mydland served in the United States Navy during World War II, from 1943 to 1946. He was the County Attorney for Brookings County, South Dakota and served in the South Dakota State Senate representing the 13th district (1963–66) and the 6th district (1967–68).[2] He was the Attorney General of South Dakota from 1969 to 1973. Afterward he was a South Dakota Third Judicial Circuit judge.[1][3]

1968 Attorney General Election

On April 10, 1968, Mydland was the fourth candidate for the Republican nomination for Attorney General. He joined previously announced candidates Walter Andre, Michael Strain both of Pierre and assistant attorneys general and Tony Wiesensee an attorney from Canton.[4] On July 16, 1968, at the Republican Convention, Mydland would defeat Micahel Strain by a vote of 82,946 to 48,764, Andre and Wiesensee removed themselves from the race before the voting began.[5]

Mydland was elected as Attorney General by defeating Democrat James Abourezk in 1968. Gordon received 148,366 (55.69%) votes; James received 118,045 (44.31%) votes.[6]

1970 Attorney General Election

Mydland was challenged for re-nomination by Ron Schmidt of Pierre.[7][8] Mydland prevailed with 118,446 1/2 votes to Schmidt receiving 42,542 1/2 votes. [9]

Mydland was re-elected in 1970 by defeating Democrat Ramon Roubideaux. Gordon received 116,493 (50.40%) votes; Ramon received 114,633 (49.60%) votes. [10][11]

1972 South Dakota US Senate Election

In the US Senate primary, Mydland finished 2nd to Robert Hirsch. Hirsch did not get the required 35% of the vote to win the nomination, so the nomination was decided by the South Dakota Republican Convention.[12] Hirsch was nominated by the convention for the US Senate, but lost to Democrat James Abourezk in the general election.[13]

Circuit Court Judge

In 1973, Mydland was appointed to be a Circuit Court judge for the 3rd Judicial Circuit, where he served until his retirement in 1987.[14]

Personal life

Mydland is a Lutheran. He married Lorrie Grange in 1958. They had one child, John Gabriel Mydland.[1][15]

References
  1. South Dakota Legislative Manual.
  2. Gordon J. Mydland South Dakota Legislator Historical Listing
  3. South Dakota Bar Journal.
  4. Sioux Falls Argus Leader, April 10, 1968, page 1
  5. Rapid City Journal, July 16, 1968, page 1
  6. "Official Election Returns" (PDF). sdsos.gov. November 5, 1968. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  7. The Daily Republic, July 7, 1970, page 12
  8. The Rapid City Journal, July 8, 1970, page 1-2
  9. Sioux Falls Argus Leader, July 14, 1970, page 1
  10. "Official Election Returns" (PDF). sdsos.gov. November 3, 1970. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  11. Rapid City Journal, November 4, 1970, page 1
  12. Rapid City Journal, June 25, 1972, page 3
  13. The Daily Republic, June 28, 1972, page 4
  14. 1987 Legislative Manual
  15. "The American Bench".
Legal offices
Preceded by
Frank Farrar		 Attorney General of South Dakota
1969–1973		 Succeeded by
Kermit A. Sande
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