Edgar Herschler

Early life

Edgar Jacob Herschler was born in Kemmerer, Wyoming, on October 27, 1918, to Edgar Fuller Herschler and Charlotte Jenkins. During his childhood, he was initially taught at his family's ranch before later attended high school in Kemmerer. In 1941, he graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Arts in Pre-Law.

In January 1942, Herschler enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served as a Marine Raider in the Pacific Theater during World War II. On November 23, 1943, during the invasion of Bougainville, Herschler volunteered to help evacuate wounded out of danger. Risking his own life, he rescued another Marine and was himself wounded. For his actions there, he was awarded the Silver Star Medal.

In 1949, he earned his LL.B from the University of Wyoming. He served as Kemmerer's city attorney and then as Lincoln County attorney from 1951 to 1958 and from 1961 to 1963.

Career

Legislature

On June 15, 1960, he filed to run for the Democratic nomination for one of Lincoln County's three seats in the Wyoming House of Representatives and won in the general election. Upon taking office he introduced a bill that would repeal Wyoming's inheritance tax. However, after the initial forty day session of the house he resigned on March 10, 1961, to become Lincoln County's attorney again, but filed to run for the house again in 1962 and won a seat in the general election placing second. In the 1964 elections the Democrats took control of the state house and in the 1965 legislative session Herschler was selected as House Majority Whip and made chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. In 1967, he cosponsored the first air pollution control bill in Wyoming and on September 13, 1968, he was elected as president of the Wyoming State Bar Association.

He was considered a possible candidate for governor in the 1970 election, but stated on December 10, 1969, that he was not interested in running for governor. On April 27, 1970, he announced that he would run for the Democratic nomination for Wyoming's at-large congressional district, but was defeated by former Representative Teno Roncalio who went on to win in the general election. On October 27, he endorsed Roncalio following his defeat in the August primary. In 1971 he stated that he was contacted by Governor Stanley K. Hathaway as being a possible appointment to the Wyoming Supreme Court, but was not selected.

Governor

On May 23, 1974, he announced that he would seek the Democratic nomination for governor and defeated former state senator Dick Jones in the general election. He was critical of President Jimmy Carter for his agricultural stances and water projects and when Carter visited Grand Teton National Park from August 24 to September 1, 1978, he had Herschler notified that he was not invited.

In 1978, he narrowly won reelection by 2,377 votes, but easily won reelection to a third term in 1982 becoming Wyoming's only governor to serve more than two terms. In 1986 he announced that he would not seek reelection to a fourth term.

In September 1981 Cody, Wyoming hosted the Western Governors Association's annual conference of that year and Herschler was selected as president of the Western Conference to serve a one-year term from 1981 to 1982.

In 1985, he commuted the sentences and ordered the releases of Deborah and Richard Janhke Jr., who were both convicted in 1983 of manslaughter in the 1982 death of their abusive father, Richard Jahnke Sr., in Cheyenne and who were the subjects of the television film Right to Kill? In September 1985 he had to file for bankruptcy due to the failure of his 18,500 acre Yellowstone Ranch with almost $6 million in debt.

During his tenure he vetoed more bills than any other governor in Wyoming's history, but none of his vetoes were ever overridden despite the Republicans holding supermajorities in both chambers during most of his tenure. Some of his vetoes were unpopular such as when in 1984 he vetoed a homeowners tax credit program stating that it would subsidize homeowners who did not need it which resulted in the Democrats losing seven seats in the House of Representatives.

| Superintendent of Public Instruction = Robert G. Schrader | Superintendent of Public Instruction date = 1975-1979 | Superintendent of Public Instruction 2 = Lynn Simons | Superintendent of Public Instruction date 2 = 1979–1987

Later life

After leaving office, he returned to practicing law in Cheyenne, and in 1988, multiple people attempted to convince him to run in the Senate election against Malcolm Wallop, but he chose not to. In February 1988, he endorsed and campaigned for Senator Al Gore for the Democratic presidential nomination and on March 5 Wyoming became the first of seven contests that Gore won in the presidential primaries. His successor as governor, Mike Sullivan, supported cigarette tax hikes and smoking bans and was added to Phillip Morris' list of smokers' enemies and in May 1988 Herschler criticized him for it and suggested that municipalities that ban smoking should not be given money from cigarette tax revenues.

In early December 1989, he was hospitalized for cancer treatment and released on December 15, but was re-hospitalized in January 1990. On February 5, 1990, he died in Cheyenne after suffering from cancer at age 71.

Electoral history

Legacy

Herschler is considered to be Wyoming's most popular governor, being the only governor to serve more than two terms. Herschler Triangle Park in Kemmerer, WY is named after him.

References

References

1. "Edgar J. Herschler".
2. (30 March 1975). "Herschler family has deep routes". Casper Star-Tribune.
3. "Ed Herschler {{!}} WyoHistory.org".
4. Capace, Nancy. (2001-01-01). "Encyclopedia of Wyoming". Somerset Publishers, Inc..
5. (20 October 1944). "For Gallantry in Action on Bougainville, Sgt Edgar J. Herschler Awarded Silver Star and Citation". The Powder Keg.
6. (8 March 1961). "Herschler Is Lincoln Attorney". Casper Star-Tribune.
7. (15 June 1960). "Ed Herschler Files". Casper Star-Tribune.
8. (13 January 1961). "School Aid Repeal Bill Introduced". Casper Morning Star.
9. (10 July 1962). "Herschler files 1962". Casper Morning Star.
10. (7 November 1962). "Republicans Hold Majority In Legislature". Casper Star-Tribune.
11. (15 January 1965). "50 Bills Now Entered In Wyoming's House". Casper Star-Tribune.
12. (19 January 1965). "Curb on Governor Rejected". Casper Star-Tribune.
13. (16 September 1968). "Curb on Governor Rejected". Casper Star-Tribune.
14. (12 December 1969). "Herschler Not Candidate". Casper Star-Tribune.
15. (28 April 1970). "Herschler Decides To Run for House". Casper Star-Tribune.
16. (28 October 1970). "Herschler to Back Roncalio". Casper Star-Tribune.
17. (22 November 1971). "Ed Herschler Possible Supreme Court Nominee". Casper Star-Tribune.
18. (23 May 1974). "Herschler to announce". Casper Star-Tribune.
19. (15 August 1978). "Herschler not invited to meet President Carter". Casper Star-Tribune.
20. (11 September 1981). "Western Democratic leaders meet in Cody". Casper Star-Tribune.
21. (13 September 1981). "Herschler to chair Govs Conference". Casper Star-Tribune.
22. (7 February 1990). "Herschler". The Jackson Hole Guide.
23. (6 February 1990). "Ed Herschler's political legacy". Casper Star-Tribune.
24. (5 March 1988). "Herschler stumps for Gore Friday". Casper Star-Tribune.
25. (15 May 1988). "Backlash forms against anti-smoking laws". Casper Star-Tribune.
26. (11 January 1990). "Herschler back in Cheyenne hospital". Casper Star-Tribune.
27. (7 February 1990). "Former Gov. Ed Herschler is dead at 71". The Jackson Hole Guide.