Walter Maddock

Background

Maddock was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Career

He served in the North Dakota House of Representatives from 1914 to 1924, and became the 14th Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota in 1925. Maddock became the 15th Governor of North Dakota in 1928 when Arthur G. Sorlie died in office, and became the first governor born in North Dakota. He received his education at Northwestern Business College in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Maddock became the Lieutenant Governor in 1925 and upon the death of Governor Sorlie, he assumed the governorship in 1928.

After being defeated in the election, Maddock returned to farming and was active in organizing farmers" cooperatives. Maddock was a very strong supporter of the Nonpartisan League, and he supported state-owned industries (Bank of North Dakota and the State Mill and Elevator).

In 1933, Maddock became senior administrative officer of the regional Agricultural Adjustment Administration. From 1937 until his retirement in 1950, he served as head of North Dakota"s Farm Security Administration office.

Maddock died on January 25, 1951, and is buried in Saint Mary"s Cemetery, Bismarck, Burleigh County, North Dakota United States of America.

Achievements

• He served the remainder of Sorlie"s term and sought re-election, but he failed to win the race against George F. Shafer.

Politics

Maddock"s first involvement with politics was as one of the founders of the Nonpartisan League. In the 1928 election, he did something rare when he switched parties from Republican to Democratic.

Membership

He was a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives from 1915 through 1923.