Gordon Mydland

Gordon James Mydland[1] (May 12, 1922 – October 6, 2022) was an American attorney and politician who served as the Attorney General of South Dakota. He was also a state senator, and a circuit court judge.

Gordon Mydland
Member of the South Dakota Senate
from the 13th, 6th district
In office
1963–1968
23rd Attorney General of South Dakota
In office
1969–1973
GovernorFrank Farrar
Richard F. Kneip
Preceded byFrank Farrar
Succeeded byKermit A. Sande
Circuit Court Judge
Personal details
Born(1922-05-12)May 12, 1922
near Hetland, South Dakota, U.S.
DiedOctober 6, 2022(2022-10-06) (aged 100)
Brookings, South Dakota, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Lorrie Grange
​
​
(m. 1958; died 2000)​
Children1
Alma materUniversity of South Dakota (BS, JD)
OccupationAttorney

Early life and education

Mydland was born on a farm near Hetland, South Dakota, on May 12, 1922.[2] He attended South Dakota State University for a Bachelor of Science degree and the University of South Dakota School of Law for his LL.B degree.[3]

Career

Prior to his election to the state senate, he was the County Attorney for Brookings County, South Dakota. He served in the South Dakota State Senate from 1963 to 1968 representing the 13th district (1963–66) and the 6th district (1967–68).[4] He was also Attorney General of South Dakota from 1969 to 1973. He was later a judge on the South Dakota Third Judicial Circuit.[3][5]

On April 10, 1968, Mydland was the fourth candidate for the Republican nomination for Attorney General. He joined previously announced candidates Walter Andre, Michael Strain both of Pierre and assistant attorneys general and Tony Wiesensee an attorney from Canton.[6] On July 16, 1968, at the Republican Convention, Mydland defeated Micahel Strain by a vote of 82,946 to 48,764; Andre and Wiesensee removed themselves from the race before the voting began.[7] Mydland was elected as Attorney General by defeating Democrat James Abourezk in 1968. Gordon received 148,366 (55.69%) votes; James received 118,045 (44.31%) votes.[8]

Mydland was challenged for re-nomination by Ron Schmidt of Pierre.[9][10] Mydland prevailed with 118,446 1/2 votes to Schmidt receiving 42,542 1/2 votes.[11] Mydland was re-elected in 1970 by defeating Democrat Ramon Roubideaux. Gordon received 116,493 (50.40%) votes; Ramon received 114,633 (49.60%) votes.[12][13]

Mydland ran for the US Senate. In the primary, Mydland finished 2nd to Robert Hirsch, but Hirsch did not get the required 35% of the vote to win the nomination, so the nomination was decided by the South Dakota Republican Convention.[14] Secretary of State Alma Larson endorsed Mydland for the nomination runoff.[15] Ultimately, Robert Hirsch was nominated by the convention for the US Senate, but he lost to Democrat James Abourezk in the general election.[16]

In 1977, Mydland was appointed to be a Circuit Court judge for the 3rd Judicial Circuit, where he served until his retirement in 1987.[17]

Personal life and death

Mydland was a Lutheran. He married Lorrie Grange in 1958 and had one son, John Gabriel Mydland.[3][18] He turned 100 in May 2022,[19] and died on October 6, 2022, in Brookings, South Dakota. He served in the United States Navy during World War II.[20]

References
  1. McNeil, Barbara (1988). Abridged Biography and Genealogy Master Index. Gale Research Company. p. 43. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  2. Biographical Directory of the South Dakota Legislature, 1889–1989: L-Z. South Dakota State Legislative Research Council. 1989. p. 789. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  3. Legislature, South Dakota (1985). South Dakota Legislative Manual.
  4. Gordon J. Mydland South Dakota Legislator Historical Listing Archived 2016-04-16 at the Wayback Machine
  5. South Dakota Bar Journal. 1968.
  6. Sioux Falls Argus Leader, April 10, 1968, page 1
  7. Rapid City Journal, July 16, 1968, page 1
  8. "Official Election Returns" (PDF). sdsos.gov. November 5, 1968. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  9. The Daily Republic, July 7, 1970, page 12
  10. The Rapid City Journal, July 8, 1970, page 1-2
  11. Sioux Falls Argus Leader, July 14, 1970, page 1
  12. "Official Election Returns" (PDF). sdsos.gov. November 3, 1970. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  13. Rapid City Journal, November 4, 1970, page 1
  14. Rapid City Journal, June 25, 1972, page 3
  15. The Daily Republic, June 26, 1972, page 1
  16. The Daily Republic, June 28, 1972, page 4
  17. 1987 Legislative Manual
  18. The American Bench. 1987. ISBN 9780931398155.
  19. "A legacy of public service". The Brookings Register. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  20. "Gordon Mydland of Brookings, South Dakota". Johnson Henry Funeral Home. October 8, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
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