Charles Thone is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 politician.

Biography

Charles Thone was born in Hartington, Nebraska

Hartington, Nebraska

Hartington is a city in Cedar County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,554 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cedar County.-Geography:Hartington is located at ....

. He has three brothers, including John Jr. He graduated from Holy Trinity High School (now Cedar Catholic High School

Cedar Catholic High School

Cedar Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Hartington, Nebraska. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha.-Athletics:Cedar Catholic is a member of the Nebraska School Activities Association...

). During World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, he served in the Infantry

Infantry

Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...

 of the United States Army

United States Army

The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...

. Following graduation from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Law in 1950, he set up private practice in Lincoln, Nebraska

Lincoln, Nebraska

The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....

. In 1952, he became President of the Nebraska Junior Chamber of Commerce

United States Junior Chamber

The United States Junior Chamber is a leadership training and civic organization for people between the ages of 18 and 41. Areas of emphasis are business development, management skills, individual training, community service, and international connections. The U.S...

. From 1954 to 1970, he served as Administrative Assistant to U.S. Senator Roman Hruska

Roman Hruska

Roman Lee Hruska was a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Nebraska. Hruska was known as one of the most vocal conservatives in the United States Senate during the 1960s and 1970s.-Life and career:...

.

He was elected to the United States House of Representatives

United States House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...

 in 1971, representing Nebraska's 1st congressional district

Nebraska's 1st congressional district

Nebraska's 1st congressional district seat encompasses most of the eastern quarter of the state. It includes the state capital, Lincoln, Fremont, Norfolk, Beatrice and South Sioux City. It is currently held by Jeff Fortenberry, a Republican. George W. Bush received 63% of the vote in this district...

. During his tenure in Congress, he served on the House Select Committee on Assassinations.

In 1979, he became the 34th Governor of Nebraska

Governor of Nebraska

The Governor of Nebraska holds the "supreme executive power" of the State of Nebraska as provided by the fourth article of the Nebraska Constitution. The current Governor is Dave Heineman, a Republican, who assumed office on January 20, 2005 upon the resignation of Mike Johanns . He won a full...

, a post he held until to 1983, when he was narrowly defeated for reelection by Bob Kerrey

Bob Kerrey

Joseph Robert "Bob" Kerrey was the 35th Governor of Nebraska from 1983 to 1987 and a U.S. Senator from Nebraska . Having served in the Vietnam War, earning the Medal of Honor for his actions, he moved into politics. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992...

. In the 1992 presidential election, he cast one of the state's five electoral votes for President George H. W. Bush

George H. W. Bush

George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...

. In 2008 he did the same for John McCain

John McCain

John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....

.

Since retiring from public life, he has practiced law in Lincoln, Nebraska at the law office of Erickson and Sederstrom. One of his colleagues at the firm, former state Attorney General Don Stenberg

Don Stenberg

Don Stenberg is a Republican politician and attorney from Nebraska. He served as Attorney General of Nebraska from 1991 to 2003 and currently serves as State Treasurer of Nebraska to which he took office in 2011. He also served as legal counsel to Governor Charles Thone from 1979 to 1983.-Stenberg v...

, served as legal counsel in then-Governor Thone's office.