George A. Wilson

George Allison Wilson (April 1, 1884 – September 8, 1953) was an American politician and lawyer. He was a United States senator and 28th governor of Iowa.

Personal background

Born on a farm near Menlo, Iowa, last child of James Henderson Wilson, a Civil War veteran and Iowa State Railroad Commissioner, and Martha Green (Varley) Wilson. Wilson won the Republican primary by 20,000 votes. He was just barely defeated by Democrat Nelson G. Kraschel in the general election by 2,431 votes out of over one million cast. Wilson won by 59,282 votes.

Wilson was then re-elected as governor in 1940, winning by 66,539 votes in the general election over Democrat John Valentine after overcoming a surprisingly strong challenge in the Republican primary from future Congressman H.R. Gross.

At the beginning of his tenure, he eliminated the state Board of Control because of their failure and neglect toward the state's 15 prisons. He won by 115,189 votes, and served in the Senate from January 14, 1943, to January 3, 1949. ran against Wilson in the general election. Wilson was expected to win. However, in a year in which President Harry S. Truman and many other Democrats surprised pundits, Gillette defeated Wilson by 162,448 votes.

Later life After leaving the Senate in early 1949, Wilson returned to practicing law with his son, George.

Wilson died at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines during a surgery for a malignant throat tumor in 1953 and was buried at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines.