Robert Pierce Knowles I (February 25, 1916November 3, 1985) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

businessman and

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

politician. He served 22 years in the

Wisconsin State Senate The Wisconsin Senate is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature. Together with the larger Wisconsin State Assembly they constitute the legislative branch of the state of Wisconsin. The powers of the Wisconsin Senate are modeled after t ...

(1955–1977), representing several counties in western Wisconsin. He was the younger brother of Wisconsin Governor Warren P. Knowles (1965–1971).

Biography

Born in

River Falls, Wisconsin River Falls is a city in Pierce County, Wisconsin, Pierce and St. Croix County, Wisconsin, St. Croix counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is adjacent to the River Falls (town), Wisconsin, Town of River Falls in Pierce County and the Kinnic ...

, Knowles served in the

United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. He then graduated from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls. He was in the insurance and real estate business. Knowles served in the

from 1955 until 1975; his older brother was Warren P. Knowles, the 37th

Governor of Wisconsin The governor of Wisconsin is the head of government of Wisconsin and the commander-in-chief of the state's army and air forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Wiscons ...

.Database
/ref> Knowles was defeated for re election in 1976 by Democrat

Michele Radosevich Michele Radosevich (born October 7, 1947) is an American politician and lawyer. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Radosevich graduated from Marquette University in 1969. In 1976, Radosevich was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate serving from 197 ...

52%-48%.

Notes

People from River Falls, Wisconsin United States Army Air Forces soldiers Military personnel from Wisconsin University of Wisconsin–River Falls alumni Businesspeople from Wisconsin Republican Party Wisconsin state senators 1916 births 1985 deaths 20th-century American businesspeople 20th-century American politicians {{Wisconsin-WISenate-stub