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C. A. Bottolfsen

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C. A. Bottolfsen
Frontispiece of 1940's Les Bois,
the yearbook of Boise Junior College
17th and 19th Governor of Idaho
In office
January 2, 1939 – January 5, 1941
LieutenantDonald Whitehead
Preceded byBarzilla Clark
Succeeded byChase A. Clark
In office
January 4, 1943 – January 1, 1945
LieutenantEdwin Nelson
Preceded byChase A. Clark
Succeeded byCharles Gossett
Speaker of the
Idaho House of Representatives
In office
1931
Preceded byDonald S. Whitehead
Succeeded byRobert Coulter
Member of the
Idaho House of Representatives
In office
1921–1931
Personal details
Born
Clarence Alfred Bottolfsen

(1891-10-10)October 10, 1891
Superior, Wisconsin
DiedJuly 18, 1964(1964-07-18) (aged 72)
Boise, Idaho
Resting placeHillcrest Cemetery,
Arco, Idaho
Political partyRepublican
SpouseElizabeth Hanna Bottolfsen (m.1912–1964, his death)
ProfessionNewspaper publisher
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceU.S. Army
Years of service1918–1919

Clarence Alfred Bottolfsen (October 10, 1891 – July 18, 1964) was an American publisher and politician from Idaho, a member of the Idaho Republican Party. He served as the state's 17th and 19th governor, from 1939 to 1941 and again from 1943 to 1945.[1]

Early years

Born in Superior, Wisconsin, Bottolfsen moved with his family to Fessenden, North Dakota, in 1902 where he was educated in the public schools. While in high school, he worked as a printer's devil (an apprentice or errand boy) in a local printing shop.[2] In 1910,[3] the owner of the shop moved to Arco, Idaho, purchased the Arco Advertiser, and sent for Bottolfsen, then nineteen, to manage it. He purchased the paper and continued to be the publisher in Arco until 1949. He married Elizabeth Hanna on August 27, 1912.[4]

Career

Bottolfsen entered the U.S. Army on June 27, 1918 and served until four months after the Armistice and was discharged in March 1919. After the War, he took a leading part in the organization of the American Legion and served as State Commander in 1934.[5]

Bottolfsen served in the Idaho House of Representatives beginning in 1921; he was reelected in 1922, 1926, 1928, and 1930. From 1925 to 1927 he was the House's chief clerk, speaker in 1931, and start party chairman from 1936 to 1938. He was the first of two in Idaho history to serve non-consecutive terms as governor (Cecil Andrus).

Early in his first term in 1939, Bottolfsen signed the bill creating the Idaho State Police.[6][7]

Idaho Gubernatorial Elections: Results
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
1938 C. Ben Ross 77,697 41.89% C. A. Bottolfsen 106,268 57.30%
1940 Chase Clark 120,420 50.48% C. A. Bottolfsen (inc.) 118,117 49.52%
1942 Chase Clark (inc.) 71,826 49.85% C. A. Bottolfsen 72,260 50.15%


While governor in 1944, Bottolfsen was the Republican nominee for the United States Senate,[8][9] but was defeated by Democrat Glen Taylor in the general election.[10][11]

U.S. Senate elections in Idaho (Class II & III): Results
Year Class Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
1944 III Glen Taylor 107,096 51.1% C. A. Bottolfsen 102,373 48.9%
Source:[12]

He ran for another term as governor in 1946, but lost to C. A. Robins in the June primary.[13][14][15][16]

In his later years, Bottolfsen served as chief clerk of the Idaho House and on the staff of U.S. Senator Herman Welker. He was elected to the state senate in 1958 and 1960, but declined to seek reelection in 1962 due to poor health.

Death and legacy

Bottolfsen was an active Freemason within the Grand Lodge of Idaho, serving as master of Arco Lodge No. 48. He was also active with the El Korah Shrine in Boise, the Rotary Club, and the Arco Chamber of Commerce.

Bottolfsen died in Boise at age 72 from complications from emphysema, which he suffered from in his final years. Bottolfsen Park in Arco is named after him.[17] His papers are contained within the University of Idaho Library in Moscow,[18] and he and his wife are interred at Hillcrest Cemetery in Arco.

References

  1. ^ C. A. Bottolfsen (The Political Graveyard)
  2. ^ "C. A. Bottolfsen". University of Idaho Library. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
  3. ^ "Governor C.A. Bottolfsen". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1940. p. 24.
  4. ^ "C. A. Bottolfsen". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
  5. ^ "C. A.Bottolfsen". Idaho Genealogy Trails. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
  6. ^ "Governor signs measure creating police force". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. February 21, 1939. p. 1.
  7. ^ "Idaho State Police makes wishes on 50th birthday". Idahonian. (Moscow). Associated Press. February 21, 1989. p. 5A.
  8. ^ "Clark leading Taylor by 201 votes for Senate". Lewiston Morning Tribune. June 14, 1944. p. 1.
  9. ^ "Neck and neck for Taylor and Clark". Lewiston Morning Tribune. June 15, 1944. p. 1.
  10. ^ "Democrats carry Idaho offices". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. November 8, 1944. p. 1.
  11. ^ "Democrats add to lead with late returns". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. November 9, 1944. p. 1.
  12. ^ "Office of the Clerk: Election statistics". U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  13. ^ Reynolds, Irvine W. (June 9, 1946). "Idaho voters have wide choice among candidates in primaries". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. p. 3, section 2.
  14. ^ Reynolds, Irvine W. (June 10, 1946). "Political field narrows after Tuesday primary". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. p. 2.
  15. ^ Pitman, Frank W. (June 12, 1946). "Donart defeats Gossett for Senate nomination". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. p. 1.
  16. ^ "Idaho vote heavy in primary race". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. June 13, 1946. p. 1.
  17. ^ C. A. Bottolfsen Biographical Sketch (University of Idaho)
  18. ^ Clarence A. Bottolfsen, Papers (University of Idaho)
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Idaho
January 1, 1939 – January 6, 1941 		Succeeded by
Chase A. Clark
Preceded by Governor of Idaho
January 4, 1943 – January 1, 1945 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by
Frank L. Stephan
 Republican nominee for Governor of Idaho
1938, 1940, 1942 		Succeeded by
W. H. Detweiler
Preceded by Republican Party nominee, U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Idaho
1944 (lost) 		Succeeded by
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