Nils Andreas Boe (September 10, 1913 – July 30, 1992)[1] was an American attorney who served as the 23rd Governor of South Dakota from 1965 to 1969. He served as a judge of the United States Customs Court, later the United States Court of International Trade.[2]

Nils Boe
Senior Judge of the United States Court of International Trade
In office
April 30, 1984 – July 30, 1992
Judge of the United States Court of International Trade
In office
November 1, 1980 – April 30, 1984
Preceded bySeat established
Succeeded byNicholas Tsoucalas
Chief Judge of the United States Customs Court
In office
1971–1977
Preceded byPaul Peter Rao
Succeeded byEdward D. Re
Judge of the United States Customs Court
In office
August 10, 1971 – November 1, 1980
Appointed byRichard Nixon
Preceded bySamuel Murray Rosenstein
Succeeded bySeat abolished
23rd Governor of South Dakota
In office
January 5, 1965 – January 7, 1969
LieutenantLem Overpeck
Preceded byArchie M. Gubbrud
Succeeded byFrank Farrar
28th Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
In office
July 20, 1962 – January 5, 1965
GovernorArchie M. Gubbrud
Preceded byJoe Bottum
Succeeded byLem Overpeck
Personal details
Born
Nils Andreas Boe

(1913-09-10)September 10, 1913
Baltic, South Dakota, U.S.
DiedJuly 30, 1992(1992-07-30) (aged 78)
Sioux Falls, South Dakota, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison (AB, LLB)

Early life and education

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Boe was born in Baltic in Minnehaha County, South Dakota. He was the youngest son of Lutheran minister Nils N. Boe (1861–1938) and Sissel Catherine Finseth (1874–1960), both immigrants from Norway.[3] He received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1935 from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he was a member of the track team, and received a Bachelor of Laws in 1937 from the University of Wisconsin Law School. Boe served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy during World War II.[4][5]

Career

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Boe was later elected to the state legislature representing Sioux Falls from 1953 to 1958. In 1962, following the state's primary elections, Lieutenant Governor Joseph H. Bottum was appointed by Governor Archie M. Gubbrud to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by Francis H. Case's death. Bottum's appointment created both a vacancy in the lieutenant governorship and in the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor in the 1962 elections. At a state convention on July 16, 1962, Boe was named as the replacement lieutenant-gubernatorial nominee.[6] Several days later, Governor Gubbrud appointed Boe to fill the vacancy in the lieutenant governorship, and Boe was sworn in on July 20.[7] He was re-elected later that fall.

In 1964, when Governor Gubbrud declined to seek a third term, Boe ran to succeed him. Upon his victory, Boe, who was unmarried, was South Dakota's only bachelor governor. His sister, Borghild Marie Boe (1906-1994), served as the state's official hostess during his term in office.[8]

The Boe administration improved the state's reservoir system, enacted a worker training program to attract new industry to South Dakota, increased state aid to schools, and created a retirement program for state employees. The administration also was noteworthy for advocating property tax cuts and starting the state's educational television system.[9]

After leaving office, Boe was appointed by President Richard Nixon as the first director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Executive Office of the President of the United States from 1969 to 1971.[4]

Federal Judicial Service

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Boe was nominated by President Richard Nixon on July 28, 1971, to a seat on the United States Customs Court vacated by Judge Samuel Murray Rosenstein. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 6, 1971, and received his commission on August 10, 1971. He served as Chief Judge from 1971 to 1977. He was reassigned by operation of law on November 1, 1980, to the United States Court of International Trade, to a new seat authorized by 94 Stat. 1727. He assumed senior status on April 30, 1984. His service terminated on July 30, 1992, due to his death. He was succeeded by Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas.[4]

Death

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Boe died of cancer on July 30, 1992, at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.[10]

Legacy

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In 1971, members of the Boe family had established an endowment at Augustana College (now Augustana University) for the Center for Western Studies to support a non-partisan lecture series. Nils Boe is memorialized by The Boe Forum on Public Affairs conducted annually at Augustana University.[4][11][12]

References

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  1. ^ "Nils Boe". Soylent Communications. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  2. ^ "Nils Andreas Boe - Governor, Judge and Presidential Aide 1913-1992". Washington High School Historical Committee. January 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2016.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Minnehaha County, South Dakota (1920 Federal Census)
  4. ^ a b c d Nils Andreas Boe at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  5. ^ "Norwegian Lutheran Pastors of America, 1843-1927". Ancestorinfo.com. January 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  6. ^ Perkes, Dan (July 17, 1962). "SD Republicans Pick Nominees; Adopt Platform". Mitchell Daily Republic. Mitchell, S.D. p. 1. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  7. ^ "SD Republicans Pick Nominees; Adopt Platform". Daily Plainsman. Huron, S.D. July 20, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  8. ^ "Trail of Governor: Governor Nils Andreas Boe". Trail of Governors. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  9. ^ Nelson, Gordon (March 21, 1965). "State Aid Increase Major School Bill Passed This Year". Daily Plainsman. Huron, S.D. p. 11. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  10. ^ Lambert, Bruce (3 August 1992). "Judge Nils Boe, 78; S. Dakota Governor And Aide to Nixon". The New York Times.
  11. ^ "Governor Nils Andreas Boe". Trail of Governors Foundation. January 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  12. ^ "The Boe Forum on Public Affairs". Augustana University. January 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2016.

Sources

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Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
1962
Succeeded by
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of South Dakota
1964, 1966
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
1963–1965
Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of South Dakota
1965–1969
Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States Customs Court
1971–1980
Seat abolished
Preceded by Chief Judge of the United States Customs Court
1971–1977
Succeeded by
New seat Judge of the United States Court of International Trade
1980–1984
Succeeded by