Adam McMullen (June 12, 1872 – March 2, 1959) was an American Republican

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

and was the 21st Governor of

Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the southwe ...

. McMullen was born in

Wellsville, New York Wellsville is a Town and largest community in Allegany County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town had a population of 7,099. Wellsville is centrally located in the south half of the county, north of the Pennsylvania border ...

and as a young boy moved with his family to

Wymore, Nebraska Wymore is a city in Gage County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,377 at the 2020 census. History Wymore was platted in 1881 as a railroad town, on land donated by Sam Wymore. The "Welsh Capitol of the Great Plains," Wymore became ...

. He was a founding member of the Beta Tau chapter of

Delta Tau Delta Delta Tau Delta () is a United States-based international Greek letter college fraternity. Delta Tau Delta was founded at Bethany College, Bethany, Virginia, (now West Virginia) in 1858. The fraternity currently has around 130 collegiate chapters ...

fraternity at the

University of Nebraska-Lincoln A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

in 1894. He graduated from the

University of Nebraska A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...

in 1896, and matriculated at

George Washington University , mottoeng = "God is Our Trust" , established = , type = Private federally chartered research university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $2.8 billion (2022) , preside ...

, where he earned a law degree in 1899. He was married to Cora Greenwood.

Career

Still in Washington, D. C. after his graduation in 1899, McMullen worked as a secretary for Nebraska Congressman

Jesse Strode Jesse Burr Strode (February 18, 1845 – November 10, 1924) was an American Republican Party politician. He was born in Fulton County, Illinois on February 18, 1845, and graduated from Abingdon College in Abingdon, Illinois (which was later con ...

, then for Senator Charles Henry Dietrich. He returned to Wymore, Nebraska where he passed the state bar and entered into private practice. In 1904, McMullen was elected to the

Nebraska House of Representatives The Nebraska House of Representatives was the lower house of the Nebraska Legislature during the days when Nebraska Territory, Nebraska was a territory from 1854 to 1867 and then again when Nebraska was a state from 1867 until 1937. In 1934, Nebras ...

; He was reelected to a second term in 1906. After this time, McMullen served as mayor of Wymore. In 1916, McMullen was elected to the

Nebraska State Senate The Nebraska Legislature (also called the Unicameral) is the legislature of the U.S. state of Nebraska. The Legislature meets at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln. With 49 members, known as "senators", the Nebraska Legislature is the small ...

and served from 1917 to 1919. From 1916 to 1920, he was also a member of the Wymore School Board, serving as president during the last two years. He was elected Governor of Nebraska in 1924 and in 1926. During his tenure, the state deficit was erased by implementing a special tax, and the state highway program was improved. After stepping down from governorship, McMullen settled in

Beatrice, Nebraska Beatrice () is a city in and the county seat of Gage County, Nebraska, United States. Its population was 12,459 at the 2010 census. Beatrice is located approximately 25 miles south of Lincoln on the Big Blue River and is surrounded by agricultu ...

and continued to stay politically active while pursuing his own business interests. He served as Postmaster of Beatrice in 1932. He was also a delegate to

1944 Republican National Convention The 1944 Republican National Convention was held in Chicago, Illinois, from June 26 to 28, 1944. It nominated Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York for president and Governor John Bricker of Ohio for vice president. Background When the conve ...

and the chairman of the

National Governors Association The National Governors Association (NGA) is an American political organization founded in 1908. The association's members are the governors of the 55 states, territories and commonwealths. Members come to the association from across the politica ...

in 1927 to 1928.

Death

McMullen died on March 2, 1959. He is interred at Wymore Cemetery in

References

External links

*
National Governors Association

Encyclopedia of Nebraska
, - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:McMullen, Adam 1872 births 1959 deaths George Washington University Law School alumni Republican Party governors of Nebraska Republican Party members of the Nebraska House of Representatives Nebraska lawyers Republican Party Nebraska state senators People from Gage County, Nebraska People from Wellsville, New York University of Nebraska–Lincoln alumni