Kenneth L. Greenquist

Kenneth L. Greenquist (April 3, 1910 – April 5, 1968) was a machinist, lawyer, and politician. He represented Racine County in the Wisconsin State Senate for four years as a Wisconsin Progressive, and was President of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents.

Kenneth L. Greenquist
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 21st district
In office
January 11, 1939 – January 13, 1943
Preceded byJoseph Clancy
Succeeded byEdward F. Hilker
Personal details
Born(1910-04-03)April 3, 1910
Florence, Wisconsin
DiedApril 5, 1968(1968-04-05) (aged 58)
Madison, Wisconsin
Resting placeGraceland Cemetery
Racine, Wisconsin
Political partyWisconsin Progressive Party
Spouse(s)
  • Hilda K. Greenquist
  • (m. 1940; died 2005)
Children
  • Katherine L. Greenquist
  • Nancy M. (McCarthy)
Alma materUniversity of Kentucky
University of Wisconsin Law School
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1943–1945
Rank Lieutenant, USNR
Unit U.S. Navy Reserve
SS Ralph A. Cram
Battles/warsWorld War II

Early life and education

Greenquist was born on April 3, 1910 in Florence, Wisconsin.[1][2] He graduated from Racine High School in Racine, Wisconsin before attending the University of Kentucky. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1936.[2]

Career

Greenquist worked as a spot welder assistant with the J. I. Case Company, the Massey-Harris Company, and Modine Manufacturing. After graduating from law school, Greenquist entered a law partnership with Francis Wendt, who would later become Chairman of the Racine City Council.

In 1938, Wendt and Greenquist entered Progressive politics, managing the campaign of city council candidate Casimir Zielkowski. Zielkowski won his election, and, that fall, Greenquist ran for the Wisconsin Senate in the 21st district. Greenquist won the Progressive Party's nomination in the September primary election, and faced incumbent Democrat Joseph Clancy and Republican challenger Fred Ahlgrimm in the general election.[3]

Greenquist won the election and represented Racine County in the Wisconsin Senate for the next four years. As a senator, Greenquist served on the Committee for State and Local Government. In 1941, after the death of Congressman Stephen Bolles, Greenquist ran in the special election to replace him in the 1st Congressional District, but was not successful.[4]

He did not seek re-election in 1942 and instead entered the United States Navy Reserve for service in World War II. He attended officer training in Gulfport, Mississippi, and was then assigned to the Liberty ship Ralph A. Cram, journeying from Brooklyn to Europe, then to the South Pacific.

After the war, Greenquist was appointed City Attorney of Racine and remained in that role until 1949. He remained active as an attorney and activist. In 1957, he successfully argued the case of Maier v. Racine County before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which found that the county government did not have the authority to set a legal drinking age. The case became a frequently-cited precedent which limited the powers of county boards.

In 1962, Governor John W. Reynolds appointed Greenquist to the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. He was elected President of the Board of Regents in June of 1967.

He died in April 1968, two days after his 58th birthday.[2][5][6]

Family life and legacy

Greenquist married Hilda Winger in 1940. They had two daughters together. He died on April 5, 1968, at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison.[2]

He served as Commander of the Wisconsin Department of the American Legion in 1952.

Greenquist Hall on the University of Wisconsin–Parkside campus in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, was named for him.

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References
  1. "Members of the legislature". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1940. State of Wisconsin. p. 31. Retrieved 2013-11-22.
  2. "Kenneth Greenquist, 58, Succumbs at Hospital". Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter. April 5, 1968. p. 1. Retrieved July 29, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Parties and elections: the general election". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1940. State of Wisconsin. p. 616. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  4. Ohm, Howard F.; Bryhan, Leone G. (eds.). "Parties and elections: the primary elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1942 (Report). p. 586.
  5. "Obituary: Hilda Katherine Greenquist". Racine Journal Times. September 29, 2005. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  6. The Wisconsin Blue Book 1940, Biographical Sketch of Kenneth L. Greenquist, p. 40
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