Gerald Whelan
30th Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska
In office
January 9, 1975 – January 4, 1979
GovernorJ. James Exon
Preceded byFrank Marsh
Succeeded byRoland A. Luedtke
Personal details
BornMay 14, 1925
Hastings, Nebraska
DiedJanuary 2, 1993(1993-01-02) (aged 67)
Political partyDemocratic

Gerald T. Whelan (May 14, 1925 – January 2, 1993) was an American politician who served as the 30th lieutenant governor of Nebraska from 1975 to 1979.

Whelan was born in Hastings, Nebraska on May 14, 1925. He graduated from University of Nebraska–Lincoln, obtained a law degree from Creighton University, and practiced law in Hastings.[1]

In 1960, Whelan won the Democratic nomination to run for Nebraska's 1st congressional district, and lost to incumbent Republican Phillip Hart Weaver in the general election.[2]

Whelan, with the endorsement of Democratic governor J. James Exon, beat longtime Nebraska politician Terry Carpenter in the Democratic primary in May 1974 for lieutenant governor, and went on to win the general election.[3][4] In the 1978 election, Whelan ran for Nebraska Governor, but lost to Charles Thone.[5]

Personal

Whelan married Virginia Kellison (1927–2010) in 1948 and had four children together.[6]

References

  1. ^ The National Conference of Lieutenant Governors ... biographical sketches and portraits (1976)
  2. ^ ( May 11, 1960). Kennedy, Nixon, Easy Victors In Nebraska, Eugene Register-Guard
  3. ^ (May 15, 1974)). Governor of Nebraska is Renominated, St. Joseph News-Press
  4. ^ (16 May 1974). Exon Big Winner In Nebraska Race, The New York Times
  5. ^ (November 6, 1978). Governor Wins Senate Seat In Nebraska, Pittsburgh Press
  6. ^ (January 24, 2010) Obituary: Virginia M. Whelan, Lincoln Journal Star
Party political offices Preceded byRonald E. Reagan Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska 1974 Succeeded byOrval Keyes Preceded byJ. James Exon Democratic nominee for Governor of Nebraska 1978 Succeeded byBob Kerrey Political offices Preceded byFrank Marsh Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska 1975–1979 Succeeded byRoland A. Luedtke


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