Walter Eugene Guess (December 30, 1932 – March 13, 1975) was an American lawyer and politician. Born in

Tutwiler, Mississippi Tutwiler is a town in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, United States. The population at the 2010 census was 3,550. History In 1899, Tom Tutwiler, a civil engineer for a local railroad, made his headquarters seven miles northwest of Sumner. The ...

, Guess graduated from George Washington High School in

Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city (United States), independent city in the northern region of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of Downto ...

. In 1955, Guess graduated from the

College of William & Mary The College of William & Mary (officially The College of William and Mary in Virginia, abbreviated as William & Mary, W&M) is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693 by letters patent issued by King William III ...

. He served in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

as an artillery officer at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In 1959, Guess received his law degree from

University of Virginia School of Law The University of Virginia School of Law (Virginia Law or UVA Law) is the law school of the University of Virginia, a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as part of his "academical v ...

. He worked as an attorney for the

United States Department of the Interior The United States Department of the Interior (DOI) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government headquartered at the Main Interior Building, located at 1849 C Street NW in Washington, D.C. It is responsible for the mana ...

and settled in

Anchorage, Alaska Anchorage () is the largest city in the U.S. state of Alaska by population. With a population of 291,247 in 2020, it contains nearly 40% of the state's population. The Anchorage metropolitan area, which includes Anchorage and the neighboring Ma ...

. He then practiced law in Anchorage. From 1965 to 1973, Guess served in the

Alaska House of Representatives The Alaska State House of Representatives is the lower house in the Alaska Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. The House is composed of 40 members, each of whom represents a district of approximately 17,756 people per ...

and was a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

. He served as speaker of the house in 1971. In 1972 and 1974, Guess campaigned for the

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and pow ...

and lost the elections. Guess died of an aneurysm at the Baranof Hotel in

Juneau, Alaska The City and Borough of Juneau, more commonly known simply as Juneau ( ; tli, Dzánti K'ihéeni ), is the capital city of the state of Alaska. Located in the Gastineau Channel and the Alaskan panhandle, it is a unified municipality and the se ...

while on a business trip. His daughter

Gretchen Guess Gretchen Guess (born September 5, 1969) is an American businesswoman and politician. Born in Anchorage, Alaska, Guess received her bachelor's degree in economics from Carleton College and her master's degree in public policy analysis from Universi ...

also served in the Alaska Legislature.'Candidates get in, out as filing deadline nears,' Peninsula Clarion, Paul Queary, June 2, 2000

Notes

, - 1932 births 1975 deaths Alaska lawyers College of William & Mary alumni Lawyers from Alexandria, Virginia Lawyers from Anchorage, Alaska Military personnel from Anchorage, Alaska Military personnel from Mississippi People from Tutwiler, Mississippi Politicians from Alexandria, Virginia Politicians from Anchorage, Alaska Speakers of the Alaska House of Representatives Democratic Party members of the Alaska House of Representatives United States Department of the Interior officials University of Virginia School of Law alumni 20th-century American politicians {{Alaska-politician-stub