Walter K. Granger
Encyclopedia
Walter Keil Granger was a U.S. Representative
from Utah
.
Born in St. George, Utah
, Granger moved with his parents to Cedar City, Utah
, in 1894. He attended the public schools and graduated from Branch Agricultural College
at Cedar City, Utah
in 1909. From 1909 to 1911 Granger served as an LDS missionary
in the Southern States
Mission
.
Granger served as postmaster of Cedar City from 1914 to 1922. During this time he served overseas as a sergeant in the Eleventh Regiment of the United States Marine Corps
from 1918 to 1919, which saw no combat in the waning days of World War I
. He later twice served as mayor of Cedar City from 1923 to 1926 and 1930 to 1932. From 1926 until at least 1930 Granger was also the LDS Bishop of the Cedar 3rd Ward in Ceder City.
Advancing his political career, Granger served as member of the Utah House of Representatives
from 1932 to 1937, and serving as speaker
in 1935. He then served as member of the Public Service Commission of Utah from 1937 to 1940. In 1941 Granger was elected as a Democrat
to the Seventy-seventh
and to the five succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1941 to January 3, 1953). He was not a candidate for reelection in 1952 but was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate
. In 1954 he was again an unsuccessful candidate, in the election to the 84th United States Congress
.
Granger was engaged in agricultural pursuits and livestock raising and served as member of the board of trustees of Utah State Agricultural College. After his political life he resumed his farming interests and from 1967 to 1970 served as member of the Board of Appeals of the United States Forest Service
in the Department of Agriculture
.
After retiring, he resided again in Cedar City, where he died April 21, 1978 at the age of 89. He was interred in Cedar City Cemetery.
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...
from Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
.
Born in St. George, Utah
St. George, Utah
St. George is a city located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Utah, and the county seat of Washington County, Utah. It is the principal city of and is included in the St. George, Utah, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is 119 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, and 303 miles ...
, Granger moved with his parents to Cedar City, Utah
Cedar City, Utah
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,527 people, 6,486 households, and 4,682 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,021.8 people per square mile . There were 7,109 housing units at an average density of 353.9 per square mile...
, in 1894. He attended the public schools and graduated from Branch Agricultural College
Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University, or SUU, is located in Cedar City, Utah. It was founded in 1897 as an extension of the Agricultural College of Utah, by the citizens of Cedar City.During its history, the school has been known as:...
at Cedar City, Utah
Cedar City, Utah
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,527 people, 6,486 households, and 4,682 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,021.8 people per square mile . There were 7,109 housing units at an average density of 353.9 per square mile...
in 1909. From 1909 to 1911 Granger served as an LDS missionary
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in the Southern States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
.
Granger served as postmaster of Cedar City from 1914 to 1922. During this time he served overseas as a sergeant in the Eleventh Regiment of the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
from 1918 to 1919, which saw no combat in the waning days of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He later twice served as mayor of Cedar City from 1923 to 1926 and 1930 to 1932. From 1926 until at least 1930 Granger was also the LDS Bishop of the Cedar 3rd Ward in Ceder City.
Advancing his political career, Granger served as member of the Utah House of Representatives
Utah House of Representatives
The Utah House of Representatives is the lower house of the Utah State Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Utah. The House is composed of 75 representatives elected from single member constituent districts. Each district contains an average population of 35,000 people...
from 1932 to 1937, and serving as speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
in 1935. He then served as member of the Public Service Commission of Utah from 1937 to 1940. In 1941 Granger was elected as a 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...
to the Seventy-seventh
77th United States Congress
-Major events:* December 7, 1941: Attack on Pearl Harbor* December 8, 1941: Joint Session of Congress met to hear President Roosevelt deliver his "Day of Infamy" speech...
and to the five succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1941 to January 3, 1953). He was not a candidate for reelection in 1952 but was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. In 1954 he was again an unsuccessful candidate, in the election to the 84th United States Congress
84th United States Congress
The Eighty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1955 to January 3, 1957, during the third and...
.
Granger was engaged in agricultural pursuits and livestock raising and served as member of the board of trustees of Utah State Agricultural College. After his political life he resumed his farming interests and from 1967 to 1970 served as member of the Board of Appeals of the United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
in the Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
.
After retiring, he resided again in Cedar City, where he died April 21, 1978 at the age of 89. He was interred in Cedar City Cemetery.