Henry F. Schricker

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Henry F. Schricker
36th Governor of Indiana
In office January 13, 1941 – January 8, 1945
Lieutenant	Charles M. Dawson
Preceded by	M. Clifford Townsend
Succeeded by	Ralph F. Gates
38th Governor of Indiana
In office January 10, 1949 – January 12, 1953
Lieutenant	John A. Watkins
Preceded by	Ralph F. Gates
Succeeded by	George N. Craig
Born	August 30, 1883(1883-08-30) North Judson, Indiana
Died	December 28, 1966 (aged 83) Knox, Indiana
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Maude Schricker

Henry Frederick Schricker (30 August 1883 – 28 December 1966) was Democratic governor of the American state of Indiana from 1941 to 1945 and from 1949 to 1953. He is the only Indiana governor elected to two non-consecutive terms.

[edit] Youth

Schricker was born in North Judson, Indiana in the summer of 1883 to Bavarian immigrants. After finishing public school in North Judson, Schricker decided to become a lawyer and worked toward that goal by taking a position in the Starke County, Indiana clerk's office in Knox, Indiana. After a year of studying law on the side, he passed the bar examination and began practing law in Knox with his mentor, Adrian Courtright. He became the cashier of the Hamlet bank in 1907, and became the owner, publisher, and editor of the Starke County Democrat in 1908. He was actively involved in the community, organizing the first Boy Scout troop in Starke County in 1912 and presiding as the chief of the Knox Fire Department. It was also during this time that Henry met Maude Brown, a Knox teacher teaching in North Dakota. In 1914 Henry visited her and convinced her to return to Knox, which resulted in their marriage on October 21, 1914. In 1919 he returned to his previous career, and became the cashier of the First National Bank of Knox.

[edit] Political Career

[edit] State government

Henry Schricker's first entry into politics was his run for the Indiana State Senate in 1924 as a Democrat. After losing the race, he retained his cashier position and continued there until 1932, when he again ran for the State Senate and won. He continued in this position until he was elected Lieutenant Governor with M. Clifford Townsend in 1937.

[edit] First term

Schricker was elected governor in 1940 after serving for one term under Townsend. He garnered a legacy as governor for keeping a tight rein on the finances of the state building up the treasury during the early years of World War II. Under a Republican state legislature, he notably repealed the controversial reorganization laws of 1933 and resisted pressure to violate Federal Law by making welfare department records available to the public. Following this first term as governor, Schricker ran for the United States Senate as the Democratic nominee in 1944 and lost to Republican Homer E. Capehart by 1.3% of the vote. It was only later revealed that Franklin D. Roosevelt offered Schricker the Vice-Presidency to replace Henry A. Wallace on the ticket. Schricker declined the offer, saying "a man ought to know his own limitations", and insisted on finishing his term as governor without the distraction of a national campaign, thus narrowly missing the opportunity to become the 33rd President of the United States. According to the Starke County historical society and museum, Schricker was aware of President Roosevelt's health condition and declined on that basis as he did not feel he was able to accommodate the office if the President's health declined to such a state where he would be required to fulfill the oath of office.

[edit] Second term

Not having run for governor due to the Senate race, Schricker returned to private life by joining the American Fletcher National Bank and Trust Company of Indianapolis. However he ran for the governorship again in 1948 and won, becoming Indiana's second non-consecutive governor and the first elected to two non-consecutive terms. The Indiana Constitution bars an individual from holding the position of governor for more than two terms, so Schricker completed his second term and cofounded the Wabash Fire and Casualty Insurance Company of Indianapolis. During the Kentucky Derby weekend in 1949, Schricker authorized a crackdown on illegal gambling in Orange County, Indiana, near the French Lick Springs Hotel.

[edit] Last run

Schricker was a popular Hoosier politician. With small-town boy charm and his signature white hat, Schricker was demanded as a speaker and his advice and sanction were sought by Democratic candidates. He received national recognition when he was chosen to deliver the nomination speech for Adlai Stevenson at the Democratic National Convention in 1952. This same year, Schricker again ran for Senate and again lost to the Republican challenger, William E. Jenner, this time by 5.6% of the vote. He retired to Knox in 1960, where died on December 28, 1966.

[edit] Trivia

Schricker played himself in the movie Johnny Holiday.

[edit] External links

• Indiana Historical Bureau: Biography and portrait
• Political Graveyard
• Starke County Historical Society Profile

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