Frank E. Panzer
Encyclopedia
Frank E. Panzer was a Wisconsin
farmer, schoolteacher, and politician who was elected as a Republican
legislator, as a Progressive
, and then again as a Republican.
in Dodge County
on September 1, 1890. He atttend Oakfield High School, worked as a farmer
, banker schoolteacher and telegraph operator. He was elected clerk of his school district
in 1920-30, and as town chairman in 1925 (serving until 1966), and as chairman of the Dodge County Board from 1940 to 1966.
in 1930 as a Progressive
Republican with 4,129 votes to 1,582 for Democrat Jacob Scharpf and 68 for Socialist
Ada Burow. He ran for re-election in 1932, but lost his seat to Democrat
Lorenz Becker.
In 1934 (after the split between the Republicans and the Wisconsin Progressive Party
, Panzer was narrowly elected as a Progressive state senator from the 13th district (Dodge and Jefferson
counties), with 10,545 votes to 10,089 for Democrat Paul Hemmy; 5,313 for regular Republican Jesse Peters and 528 for Socialist Alfred Nabor. Panzer was defeated by Peters in 1938. He left the Progressive Party, defeated Peters in the 1942 Republican primary election
and won the 1942 general election, as well as all subsequent elections through 1966. He was elected President pro tempore
of the Senate from 1947 to 1965. He served as Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, as a member on all major committees of the Senate. He died in office in 1969 and was succeeded by Democrat Dale McKenna.
Panzer's daughter Mary E. Panzer eventually became a Republican member of the Assembly and the Senate herself.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
farmer, schoolteacher, and politician who was elected as a 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...
legislator, as a Progressive
Wisconsin Progressive Party
The Wisconsin Progressive Party , was a third party which briefly held a dominant role in Wisconsin politics. The Party was the brainchild of Philip La Follette and Robert M. La Follette, Jr., the sons of the famous Wisconsin Governor and Senator Robert M. La Follette, Sr....
, and then again as a Republican.
Background
Panzer was born in the Town of HubbardHubbard, Dodge County, Wisconsin
Hubbard is a town in Dodge County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,643 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Neda is located in the town.-Geography:...
in Dodge County
Dodge County, Wisconsin
Dodge County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 88,759. Its county seat is Juneau.-Geography:According to the U.S...
on September 1, 1890. He atttend Oakfield High School, worked as a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
, banker schoolteacher and telegraph operator. He was elected clerk of his school district
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
in 1920-30, and as town chairman in 1925 (serving until 1966), and as chairman of the Dodge County Board from 1940 to 1966.
State legislative experience
He was first elected to the AssemblyWisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
in 1930 as a Progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
Republican with 4,129 votes to 1,582 for Democrat Jacob Scharpf and 68 for Socialist
Socialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
Ada Burow. He ran for re-election in 1932, but lost his seat to Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Lorenz Becker.
In 1934 (after the split between the Republicans and the Wisconsin Progressive Party
Wisconsin Progressive Party
The Wisconsin Progressive Party , was a third party which briefly held a dominant role in Wisconsin politics. The Party was the brainchild of Philip La Follette and Robert M. La Follette, Jr., the sons of the famous Wisconsin Governor and Senator Robert M. La Follette, Sr....
, Panzer was narrowly elected as a Progressive state senator from the 13th district (Dodge and Jefferson
Jefferson County, Wisconsin
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 74,021. Its county seat is Jefferson.-Geography:According to the U.S...
counties), with 10,545 votes to 10,089 for Democrat Paul Hemmy; 5,313 for regular Republican Jesse Peters and 528 for Socialist Alfred Nabor. Panzer was defeated by Peters in 1938. He left the Progressive Party, defeated Peters in the 1942 Republican primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
and won the 1942 general election, as well as all subsequent elections through 1966. He was elected President pro tempore
President pro tempore
A President pro tempore is a constitutionally recognized officer of a legislative body who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer...
of the Senate from 1947 to 1965. He served as Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, as a member on all major committees of the Senate. He died in office in 1969 and was succeeded by Democrat Dale McKenna.
Panzer's daughter Mary E. Panzer eventually became a Republican member of the Assembly and the Senate herself.