Political party Democratic Party Democratic Party Preceded by Alfred M. Landon Spouse Eula Biggs (m. 1915) | Lieutenant William M. Lindsay Role Former Governor of Kansas Preceded by Robert L. Williams Name Walter Huxman Succeeded by Payne Ratner | |
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Profession teacher, attorney, politician, judge Died June 25, 1972, Topeka, Kansas, United States Previous office Governor of Kansas (1937–1939) Education University of Kansas School of Law, University of Kansas | ||
Appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt | ||
Walter Augustus Huxman (February 16, 1887 – June 25, 1972) was the 27th Governor of Kansas and United States federal judge.
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Biography
Huxman was born in Pretty Prairie, Kansas and grew up on the family farm attending the local schools. He became a school teacher and from 1907 to 1909 he was principle of the Castleton Grade school and in 1910, principle of the Pretty Prairie Grade School. He attended Kansas State Normal School (now Emporia State Teachers College) for two years and the University of Kansas School of Law where he received an LL.B. in 1914. On January 21, 1915, he married Eula E. Biggs and they had one daughter, Ruth.
Career
When he was admitted to the Kansas State Bar, Huxman formed a partnership with Charles S. Fulton in Hutchinson, Kansas. As well as being in private practice from 1919 to 1937, he was an Assistant County Attorney of Kansas from 1915 to 1919, a City attorney from 1919 to 1921, and a Member of the Kansas State Tax Commission from 1931 to 1932.
An accomplished keynote speaker and chairman at the 1936 Democratic State Convention, Huxman was drafted as gubernatorial candidate. He won the election and was sworn in as the Governor of Kansas on January 11, 1937. Huxman's election as governor marked a reflection on his Republican predecessor, Alf Landon, who did not seek reelection as governor as he was instead the 1936 Republican presidential nominee. In the presidential election Landon was overwhelmingly defeated and even failed to carry Kansas. This meant that on the same day that Huxman was elected as Landon's successor as governor, Kansas rejected Landon for the presidency and indicates that Huxman would have beaten Landon if Landon had sought reelection as governor.
During his tenure, World War I Soldier bonuses were paid, unemployment compensations benefits were approved, and driver's license regulations were amended.
After his term as governor, Huxman was nominated to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Huxman was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 24, 1939, to the seat vacated by Robert Lee Williams. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 17, 1939, and received his commission on May 23, 1939. He assumed senior status on April 1, 1957.
Death
Huxman's service was terminated on June 25, 1972, due to death. He is interred at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery and Mausoleum, Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas USA.