Donald S. Whitehead

Donald Strehle Whitehead (October 10, 1888 – January 2, 1957) was an American politician from Idaho. The state's 23rd and 28th lieutenant governor, he served a combined six years between 1939 and 1951.

Donald S. Whitehead
Whitehead in 1926
23rd and 28th Lieutenant Governor of Idaho
In office
January 6, 1947 – January 1, 1951
GovernorC. A. Robins
Preceded byA. R. McCabe
Succeeded byEdson H. Deal
In office
January 2, 1939 – January 6, 1941
GovernorC. A. Bottolfsen
Preceded byCharles C. Gossett
Succeeded byCharles C. Gossett
Personal details
Born(1888-10-10)October 10, 1888[1]
Three oaks, Michigan, U.S.
DiedJanuary 2, 1957(1957-01-02) (aged 68)[2]
Boise, Idaho, U.S.
Political partyRepublican

Early life

Whitehead was born on December 10, 1888 in Three Oaks, Michigan to parents William Searing Whitehead and Louise M. Whitehead (nee Strehle).[3] The family moved to Idaho when Whitehead was six months old.[4]

Whitehead graduated Boise High School in 1904 and he graduated the University of Idaho in 1907. [3][4]

He planned to become an engineer, but his father's illness forced him to return to the family business; In 1909, Whitehead became a druggist in Boise, and on November 17, 1909 he married Muriel G. Shaw.[3]

Political career

Whitehead began his political career in 1922, when he was elected to the Idaho House of Representatives. In 1929, he was elected Speaker of the House. Whitehead was first elected lieutenant governor in 1938 and served in the first administration of Governor C. A. Bottolfsen. He was elected again in 1946 and served a four-year term under Governor C. A. Robins. He previously served as speaker of the state's house of representatives.

In June 1947, Whitehead reported seeing a UFO in Boise. The same day, pilot Kenneth Arnold said he saw a similar object in the Cascades of Washington, near Mount Rainier;[5][6][7] the reported sightings received national media coverage.[8]

In 1950, Whitehead announced plans to run for governor; A heart attack led him to cancel those plans.[9]

Death

Whitehead died in 1957; At the time of his death, he was the only person to have served as both Speaker of the Idaho House and as Lt. Governor. [4] Whitehead had been active in the local Episcopal cathedral and its Scottish Rite organization. [4]

References
  1. Sharp, Nancy Weatherly; Sharp, James Roger; Ritter, Charles F.; Wakelyn, Jon L. (1997). American legislative leaders in the West, 1911-1994 - Nancy Weatherly Sharp, James Roger Sharp - Google Books. ISBN 9780313302121. Retrieved 2012-06-16 – via Google Books.
  2. Sharp, Nancy Weatherly; Sharp, James Roger; Ritter, Charles F.; Wakelyn, Jon L. (1997). American legislative leaders in the West, 1911-1994 - Nancy Weatherly Sharp, James Roger Sharp - Google Books. ISBN 9780313302121. Retrieved 2012-06-16 – via Google Books.
  3. French, Hiram Taylor (June 5, 1914). "History of Idaho: A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress, Its People and Its Principal Interests". Lewis Publishing Company – via Google Books.
  4. "3 Jan 1957, 1 - The Spokesman-Review at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  5. "Pilot says he saw mystery objects over Cascades flying at over 1,200 miles an hour; experts are doubtful". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. June 26, 1947. p. 1.
  6. "Flying pie-pan tale a bit doubtful". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. June 26, 1947. p. 1.
  7. "More skygazers tell about seeing the flying pie-pans". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. June 27, 1947. p. 1.
  8. Bartholomew, Robert E. (2010-11-02). Hoaxes, Myths, and Manias: Why We Need Critical Thinking. Prometheus Books. ISBN 978-1-61592-338-0.
  9. "3 Jan 1957, 1 - The Idaho Statesman at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.


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