Lyall T. Beggs (November 9, 1899 – May 14, 1973) was a past commander in chief of the

Veterans of Foreign Wars The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), formally the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, is an organization of US war veterans, who, as military service members fought in wars, campaigns, and expeditions on foreign land, waters, or a ...

and a member of the

Wisconsin State Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Representatives are elected for two-year terms, ...

Life and education

Beggs was born in

Plainfield, Wisconsin Plainfield is a village in Waushara County, Wisconsin, United States. The village is located almost entirely within the Town of Plainfield. A tiny portion extends into adjacent Town of Oasis. The population was 897 at the 2010 census. Histor ...

in 1899. He attended Cameron High School. Beggs was a member of the Coast Artillery and he quickly became a non-commissioned officer. Beggs ended his

military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

career in 1919. He returned to Wisconsin where he graduated from the

University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire The University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire (UW–Eau Claire, UWEC or simply Eau Claire) is a public university in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It is part of the University of Wisconsin System and offers bachelor's and master's degrees. UW–Eau Claire ...

. He went to law school at

University of Wisconsin–Madison The University of Wisconsin–Madison (University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin, UW, UW–Madison, or simply Madison) is a public land-grant research university in Madison, Wisconsin. Founded when Wisconsin achieved statehood in 1848, UW–Madison ...

. His father was Charles A. Beggs who also served in the Wisconsin Assembly. Beggs was an administrator in probate court. Beggs died in

Madison, Wisconsin Madison is the county seat of Dane County and the capital city of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census the population was 269,840, making it the second-largest city in Wisconsin by population, after Milwaukee, and the 80th-lar ...

Career

Beggs was a justice of the peace from 1927 to 1935. From 1935 to 1939 he served as the

Dane County Dane County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 561,504, making it the second-most populous county in Wisconsin. The county seat is Madison, which is also the state capital. Dane County is the ...

District Attorney. Beggs served in the Wisconsin State Assembly 1941-1947 and was a member of the

Wisconsin Progressive Party The Wisconsin Progressive Party (1934–1946) was a political party that briefly held a dominant role in Wisconsin politics. History The Party was the brainchild of Philip La Follette and Robert M. La Follette, Jr., the sons of the famous Wiscon ...

, serving as the Assembly Floor Leader in 1943 and 1945. Upon the dissolution of the Progressives, he joined the

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...

and served one term as a member of that party, but was not a candidate for re-election in 1948. In the

VFW The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), formally the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, is an organization of US war veterans, who, as United States Armed Forces, military service members fought in wars, Military campaign, campaigns, ...

, Beggs became National Junior Vice Commander then Senior Vice Commander and finally became Commander-In-Chief. In his role as Commander, Beggs also worked as a recruiter with the VFW.''Wisconsin Blue Book'', 1946, Biographical Sketch of Lyall Beggs, p. 41.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beggs, Lyall T. 1899 births 1973 deaths Politicians from Madison, Wisconsin People from Plainfield, Wisconsin Military personnel from Madison, Wisconsin University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire alumni University of Wisconsin Law School alumni Wisconsin Progressives (1924) 20th-century American legislators District attorneys in Wisconsin Wisconsin state court judges Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly 20th-century American judges National Commanders of the Veterans of Foreign Wars 20th-century Wisconsin politicians