Lieutenant Morley Griswold Role Former Governor of Nevada Resting place Reno Name Fred Balzar Resigned March 21, 1934 | Political party Republican Succeeded by Morley Griswold Preceded by James G. Scrugham Party Republican Party | |
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Born June 15, 1880
Virginia City, Nevada, U.S. ( 1880-06-15 ) Died March 21, 1934, Carson City, Nevada, United States Previous office Governor of Nevada (1927–1934) | ||
Frederick Bennett "Fred" Balzar (June 15, 1880 – March 21, 1934) was an American politician. He was the 15th Governor of Nevada. He was a member of the Republican Party.
Biography
Balzar was born in Virginia City, Nevada. His attended school in Nevada, and graduated from San Francisco Polytechnic High School. Balzar worked at a variety of occupations, including stagecoach driving, ranching, railroading, mining, and insurance.
A Republican, he served in the Nevada Assembly from 1905 to 1906, and the Nevada Senate from 1909 to 1916,. He was sheriff and county assessor of Mineral County from 1917 to 1926, and chairman of the Nevada Republican Party from 1924 to 1925.
Balzar won the race for governor in 1926, defeating incumbent James G. Scrugham. After a lengthy illness Balzar died in the governor's mansion on March 21, 1934 in Carson City, Nevada. In 1931, he signed into law Assembly Bill 98, which allowed for wide-open gambling in Nevada.
He shared a close friendship with comedian Will Rogers, who eulogized him as "a real two-fisted governor."