Rudy Perpich
Rudy Perpich | ||
---|---|---|
Lieutenant Alec G. Olson | | |
Preceded by | Wendell R. Anderson | |
Succeeded by | Al Quie | |
39th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota | ||
In office January 4, 1971 – December 29, 1976 | ||
Governor | Wendell R. Anderson | |
Preceded by | James B. Goetz | |
Succeeded by | Alec G. Olson | |
Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 63rd district | ||
In office January 8, 1963 – January 4, 1971 | ||
Preceded by | Elmer Peter Peterson | |
Succeeded by | George F. Perpich | |
Personal details | ||
Born | Rudolph George Prpić June 27, 1928 Carson Lake, Minnesota, U.S. | |
Died | September 21, 1995 Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S. | (aged 67)|
Political party | Democratic (DFL) | |
Spouse | Delores "Lola" Perpich | |
Children | 2 | |
Profession | Dentist | |
Military service | ||
Allegiance | United States | |
Branch/service | United States Army | |
Years of service | 1946–1948 | |
Rudolph George Perpich Sr. (June 27, 1928 – September 21, 1995) was an American politician and dentist who served as the
Early life and education
Rudolph George Prpić was born in Carson Lake, Minnesota, which is now part of Hibbing. His father, Anton Prpić, was a miner who had immigrated from Croatia to Minnesota's Mesabi Iron Range, and his mother, Mary (Vukelich),[1] was an American of Croatian descent. Perpich did not learn to speak English until at least the first grade of elementary school. At 14, he began working for the Great Northern Railway.[2] He graduated from Hibbing High School in 1946 and served two years in the United States Army. He then attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and graduated from Marquette University Dental School in 1954, whereupon he returned to Hibbing to practice dentistry.
Entry into politics
Perpich first entered politics by serving on the Hibbing
In 1970, Perpich was elected the 39th
Gubernatorial campaigns
Nearly the entire
Perpich worked at
Perpich was reelected in 1986, but lost to
Colorful behavior and international goals
Perpich had a reputation for colorful behavior. At one point while governor, he donated his $25,000 pay raise to help promote
Perpich's legacy of projects in Minnesota include the
Perpich opposed the Reagan
Post-political life
After leaving office in 1991, Perpich went to Zagreb, Croatia, to assist its post-communist government. In 1992 he moved to Paris, France, for a business consulting position. He returned to Minnesota in 1993. In 1995, at the age of 67, Perpich died of colon cancer in the Minneapolis suburb of Minnetonka. He is buried in Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.
See also
- Perpich Center for Arts Education
- Saint Louis County Road 4 – Governor Rudy Perpich Memorial Drive
References
- ^ Mullaney, Marie Marmo (January 31, 1994). "Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1988-1994". Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press – via Internet Archive.
- ISBN 0-87351-267-7.
- ^ 1978-04-26. Kinney requests bocce balls. Duluth News Tribune, 5B
- ^ Newsweek – June 17, 1990: "Bad Manners In Minnesota"
- ^ "Why Are We in Honduras?". March 10, 1988.
- ^ "Potow Mack". Potow Mack.