Preceded by James H. Young Nationality United States Party Democratic Party Preceded by Edwin Nelson Spouse Luella Huskinson | Preceded by Charles Gossett Role Former Governor of Idaho Lieutenant A. R. McCabe Name Arnold Williams Succeeded by C. A. Robins | |
Born May 21, 1898
Fillmore, Utah ( 1898-05-21 ) Resting place Fielding Memorial Park Cemetery
Idaho Falls, Idaho Died May 25, 1970, Idaho Falls, Idaho, United States Previous office Governor of Idaho (1945–1947) Residence Rexburg, Idaho, United States | ||
Arnold Williams (May 21, 1898 – May 25, 1970), served as the 21st Governor of Idaho from 1945 until 1947.
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Biography
Born in Fillmore, Utah, Williams attended its public school and went to Hennagers Business College in Salt Lake City, Utah. He married Luella Huskinson and they had two children.
Career
Williams served in the U.S. Army during World War I, in the infantry. After his discharge, he established a successful dry cleaning business in Rexburg, Idaho. After serving at the local and county level, he was elected to the Idaho House of Representatives in 1936 and served several terms.
Williams was elected as the 26th lieutenant governor of Idaho in 1944. He became governor in November 1945 to finish the unexpired term of Charles Gossett, who resigned after ten months and was subsequently appointed by Williams to the U.S. Senatte seat left vacant by the death of John W. Thomas. Williams became the state's first Mormon governor and was the Democratic nominee for governor in 1946, but was defeated in the general election by Republican C. A. Robins, a physician from St. Maries.
Williams was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Idaho in 1948, and later was elected secretary of state of Idaho in 1958, and served until 1966.
Death
Williams died at age 72 in Idaho Falls on May 25, 1970, and is interred at Fielding Memorial Park Cemetery in Idaho Falls.