Velma Linford

Velma Linford (May 30, 1907 – May 25, 2002) was an American educator, author, and politician who served as the 12th Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction as a Democrat.

Velma Linford
12th Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction
In office
January 3, 1955 – January 7, 1963
Preceded byEdna B. Stolt
Succeeded byCecil M. Shaw
Personal details
Born
Velma Isabelle Linford

(1907-05-30)May 30, 1907
Afton, Wyoming, U.S.
DiedMay 25, 2002(2002-05-25) (aged 94)
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Resting placeAfton Cemetery, Afton, Wyoming, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Parents
  • John Amasa Linford (father)
  • Elizabeth Rowland Linford (mother)
EducationUniversity of Wyoming

Life

Velma Isabelle Linford was born on May 30, 1907, in Afton, Wyoming, to John Amasa Linford and Elizabeth Rowland Linford. She attended Star Valley High School where she graduated in 1926 and then attended the University of Wyoming where she earned a bachelor's degree in 1930 and then a master's degree in 1934. From 1933 to 1955 she taught at Laramie High School.[1] In 1946 she wrote "Wyoming: Frontier State" a history textbook meant for junior high school.[2] In 1949 she was elected as National Education Association director for Wyoming at its convention in Boston, Massachusetts and on July 8, 1953, she was named to the eleven member executive committee of the organization.[3][4]

Politics

On June 12, 1946, she filed to run for the Democratic nomination for Superintendent of Public Instruction and after winning the nomination was narrowly defeated by Edna B. Stolt.[5][6] It was speculated that she would run for the office again in 1950, but chose not to.

On June 10, 1954, she announced that she would seek the Democratic nomination for Superintendent of Public Instruction and after winning the nomination without opposition narrowly defeated Ray E. Robertson in the general election.[7][8] During her tenure she sponsored the first statewide mental survey of children in Wyoming. In 1959 she was one of sixty people in the Atlantic Congress representing 15 NATO countries that met in London and drafted the Atlantic charter for free people. On June 18, 1962, she announced that she would seek a third term, but was narrowly defeated in the general election by Cecil Shaw by 737 votes.[9]

On May 31, 1960, she announced that she would seek the Democratic nomination for Senator, but was narrowly defeated in the primary by Raymond B. Whitaker who went on to lose to Representative Edwin Keith Thomson. In 1968 she announced that she would seek the Democratic nomination for Wyoming's at-large congressional district, but was defeated in a landslide by John S. Wold.

Later life

In 1966 she accepted a position in VISTA and oversaw the VISTA program in the Wind River Indian Reservation and recruited volunteers.[10] She died on May 25, 2002, in Salt Lake City, Utah and was then interred in Afton Cemetery in Afton, Wyoming.

Electoral history
Velma Linford electoral history
1954 Superintendent of Public Instruction election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Velma Linford 54,438 50.88%
Republican Ray E. Robertson 52,558 49.12%
Total votes '106,996' '100.00%'
1960 Senate Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Raymond B. Whitaker 18,031 44.14%
Democratic Velma Linford 13,792 33.77%
Democratic Carl A. Johnson 5,370 13.15%
Democratic Charles B. Chittim 3,653 8.94%
Total votes '40,846' '100.00%'
1962 Superintendent of Public Instruction election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Cecil Shaw 58,867 50.32%
Democratic Velma Linford 58,130 49.69%
Total votes '116,997' '100.00%'
1968 at-large Congressional District Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Velma Linford 15,633 47.63%
Democratic Raymond B. Whitaker 12,054 36.73%
Democratic David C. Laird 4,102 12.50%
Democratic George W.K. Posvar 1,033 3.15%
Total votes '32,822' '100.00%'
1968 at-large Congressional District election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John S. Wold 77,363 62.74% +10.44%
Democratic Velma Linford 45,950 37.26% -10.44%
Total votes '123,313' '100.00%'

References
  1. "Former state schools head Linford dies". AP News. 30 May 2002. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020.
  2. "Velma Linford Is Author Of New Wyoming History". Jackson's Hole Courier. 10 October 1946. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "A Mormon Woman Heads Wyoming's Board of Education". The Boston Globe. 4 December 1955. p. 80. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Miss Linford Named to NEA Executive Board". Casper Star-Tribune. 9 July 1953. p. 14. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Miss Linford Files For State School Job". Casper Star-Tribune. 12 June 1946. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Announce Candidacy Today For State Superintendent Of Public Instruction". Big Piney Examiner. 10 June 1954. p. 4. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "1954 Unopposed primaries". Casper Star-Tribune. 15 August 1954. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "1954 General Election Results". Casper Star-Tribune. 28 November 1954. p. 17. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "State School Director Announces for Primary Instruction". Casper Star-Tribune. 19 June 1962. p. 3. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Velma Linford Accepts Position With VISTA". Casper Star-Tribune. 13 January 1966. p. 10. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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