Leslie JENSEN

Background

Jensen, Leslie was born on September 15, 1892 in Hot Springs, South Dakota, United States. Son of Christian L. and Lillie May (Haxby) Jensen.

Education

Culver Military Academy, Culver, Indiana., 1912-1913. College, of Law, University of South Dakota, 1919-1921. University of South Dakota, Bachelor of Laws, 1926.

Career

He served as the 15th Governor of South Dakota. In 1916 and 1917, he was a Second Lieutenant in the South Dakota National Guard 4th Infantry Regiment during the 1916 Mexican border expedition. He was a Captain with the American Expeditionary Forces from 1917 to 1919.

He received an Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1921.

From 1922 until 1934 Jensen was a collector for the Internal Revenue Service. He became president and general manager of the People"s Telephone and Telegraph Company.

In 1936, Jensen, a Republican, defeated incumbent Governor Thomas Berry as South Dakota Governor. He served from 1937 until 1939.

During Jensen"s single term as governor, the legislature created a state department to implement the new federal Social Security Acting.

In addition, despite the financial demands of the relief effort, the Jensen administration was able to balance South Dakota"s general fund and eliminate a twenty-year-old overdraft as well as to reduce the state"s bonded indebtedness and provide for refunding of rural cr bonds at lower rates of interest. In 1938, the South Dakota Division of the Motor Patrol was formed under Governor Jensen. Harlan J. Bushfield, former Republican state chairman, succeeded Leslie Jensen as governor.

In 1938, Jensen opted to run for a seat in the United States. Senate, rather than seek reelection to the governorship, but he was defeated in the election.

In the primary election held on May 3, 1938, Chan Gurney defeated Governor Jensen for the Republican nomination as United States Senator. Jensen went on to serve as a Colonel during World World War II in the United States. Armed forces from 1941 until 1945, when he returned to Hot Springs.

Jensen died in an automobile accident in Rapid City and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Hot Springs, Fall River County, South Dakota, United States. The Leslie Jensen Scenic Highway, part of United States Route 18, was named in his honor. In 1987, the Governor Leslie Jensen House, his family residence was registered in the National Register of Historic Places listings in Fall River County, South Dakota.

Achievements

• Leslie Jensen has been listed as a noteworthy governor. of South Dakot by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Served in the United States Army, Mexican border, 1916-1917. Member American Legion, Hot Springs Colorodo of C., Veterans of Foreign Wars, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Phi. Mason.; Club: Kiwanis.

Connections

Married Elizabeth Ward, December 19, 1925. Children: Leslie Ward, Natalie, Karen.

Father:

Christian L. Jensen

Mother:

Lillie May (Haxby) Jensen

Spouse:

Elizabeth Ward

child:

Natalie Jensen

child:

Karen Jensen

child:

Leslie Ward Jensen