Preceded by Mel Carnahan Profession Teacher Succeeded by Bob Holden Spouse(s) Pat Wilson Party Democratic Party | Political party Democratic Education University of Missouri Preceded by Mel Carnahan Name Roger Wilson Resigned January 8, 2001 | |
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Lieutenant Vacant (2000)
Joe Maxwell (2000-2001) Born October 10, 1948 (age 75)
Boone County, Missouri ( 1948-10-10 ) Role Former Governor of Missouri Previous office Governor of Missouri (2000–2001) | ||
Roger B. Wilson (born October 10, 1948) is a former American politician who briefly served as the 52nd Governor of Missouri from October 16, 2000 to January 8, 2001. In 2012 he pleaded guilty to a federal charge of money laundering, and was sentenced to two years probation. Wilson is a member of the Democratic Party.
Contents
- Early life and education
- Political career
- Governor of Missouri
- Chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party
- Current life
- References
Early life and education
Wilson was born in Boone County, Missouri. He attended college at Central Methodist College and graduated class of 1977. He was a school teacher and an elementary school principal in Columbia, Missouri.
Political career
Wilson began his political career as a Boone County Collector in 1976. He was elected to the Missouri State Senate from the 19th District in a 1979 special election and was re-elected by large majorities in 1980, 1984, and 1988 He served as Lieutenant Governor of Missouri from 1993 to 2000. As lieutenant governor to Mel Carnahan, Roger Wilson was dedicated to advocating for the "Four E's": economic development, education, efficiency in government, and the elderly.
Governor of Missouri
In October 2000, Governor Mel Carnahan died in an airplane crash, and Wilson served as governor until the end of the term in 2001. Following Governor Carnahan's posthumous election to the U.S. Senate, Wilson appointed his widow Jean Carnahan to serve in his place.
Chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party
In August 2004, Wilson became Chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party after endorsing Claire McCaskill in her ultimately successful bid to unseat incumbent Governor Bob Holden in the Democratic Primary. In January, 2007, after previously indicating he was interested in serving another two years, Wilson announced he would not seek an additional term as Chairman.
Current life
Wilson was ousted as President and CEO of Missouri Employers Mutual in Columbia, Missouri in June 2011.
On April 12, 2012, Wilson pleaded guilty to federal charges of money laundering. Wilson improperly donated money to the Missouri Democratic Party and billed the public entity Missouri Employers Mutual for legal fees to cover up the crime. He faced up to a year in federal prison and $100,000 in fines. On May 25, Wilson was fined $2,000 by the Missouri Ethics Commission. In July he was sentenced to two years of probation on the money laundering charge.