Harold LeVander

Who was Harold LeVander?

Karl Harold Phillip LeVander was an American politician. He served as the 32nd Governor of Minnesota from January 2, 1967 to January 4, 1971 as a Republican, having defeated incumbent Karl Rolvaag, a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, in the 1966 election.

LeVander was born in Swede Home, Nebraska and attended high school in Watertown, Minnesota. His father, Peter Magni LeVander, was a Swedish immigrant and clergyman.

He graduated magna cum laude from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1932, where he served as class president and student council president. He also participated in the Gustavus Adolphus Debate Team, winning the National Peace Oratorical Contest, as well as the football team and track team where he competed in the high hurdles and pole vault. Following graduation from Gustavus, he attended the University of Minnesota Law School. After graduation he worked as assistant county attorney for Dakota County, from 1935–1939. He married Iantha LeVander, the daughter of William Robert and Kathleen Powrie, in 1938, and they raised a family of three children: Harold "Hap," Jean, and Diane LeVander.