Oscar Rennebohm (May 25, 1889 – October 15, 1968) was an American politician and pharmacist who served as the 32nd

governor of Wisconsin The governor of Wisconsin is the head of government of Wisconsin and the commander-in-chief of the state's Wisconsin Army National Guard, army and Wisconsin Air National Guard, air forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the ...

. He previously served as

lieutenant governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...

and assumed the office of governor in 1947 on the death of Governor Walter S. Goodland.

Early life

Born in

Leeds, Wisconsin Leeds is a town in Columbia County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 813 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Keyeser, Leeds, Leeds Center, and North Leeds are located in the town. The town took its name from the ci ...

, in Columbia County, Rennebohm moved with his family to

Milwaukee Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...

, Wisconsin, when he was ten. He graduated from the

University of Wisconsin A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". Uni ...

in 1911, after which he worked as a pharmacist and, in 1912, he founded Rennebohm Drug Stores under a

Rexall Rexall was a chain of American drugstores, and the name of their store-branded products. The stores, having roots in the federation of United Drug Stores starting in 1903, licensed the Rexall brand name to as many as 12,000 drug stores across t ...

franchise. He was vice-president of the American Pharmaceutical Association, president of the Wisconsin Pharmaceutical Association and a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin.

Career

During

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, he attended

officer candidate school An officer candidate school (OCS) is a military school which trains civilians and Enlisted rank, enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a Commission (document), commission as Commissioned officer, officers in the armed forces of a country. H ...

and was commissioned an

Ensign Ensign most often refers to: * Ensign (flag), a flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality * Ensign (rank), a navy (and former army) officer rank Ensign or The Ensign may also refer to: Places * Ensign, Alberta, Alberta, Canada * Ensign, Ka ...

in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

. In 1945, Rennebohm was elected the 30th

Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin The lieutenant governor of Wisconsin is the first person in the Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Wisconsin, line of succession of Wisconsin's executive branch, thus serving as governor in the event of the death, resignation, ...

. When Governor Walter Goodland died shortly after his third term began, Rennebohm succeeded him, winning election to the governorship in 1948. During his tenure as governor, Rennebohm began a veterans' housing program financed by an increased liquor tax. In 1949, he founded the Rennebohm Foundation, which supports education in the

Madison Madison may refer to: People * Madison (name), a given name and a surname * James Madison (1751–1836), fourth president of the United States * Madison (footballer), Brazilian footballer Places in the United States Populated places * Madi ...

area. The school of pharmacy at the

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, United States. It was founded in 1848 when Wisconsin achieved st ...

is named after Rennebohm. Additionally, Rennebohm Park, located near the Hill Farms area, is also named after Rennebohm.

Death

Rennebohm retired and died in Madison, Wisconsin, on October 15, 1968 (age 79 years, 143 days). He is

interred Burial, also known as interment or inhumation, is a method of final disposition whereby a dead body is placed into the ground, sometimes with objects. This is usually accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing the deceased and object ...

at Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison, Wisconsin.

Family life

Son of William Carl and Julia Brandt Rennebohm, he married Mary Fowler on September 8, 1920, and they had one daughter, Carol Ann.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rennebohm, Oscar 1889 births 1968 deaths People from Leeds, Wisconsin University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni Republican Party governors of Wisconsin Lieutenant governors of Wisconsin United States Navy personnel of World War I American Lutherans 20th-century American pharmacists Military personnel from Wisconsin 20th-century American naval officers 20th-century Wisconsin politicians 20th-century Lutherans Burials at Forest Hill Cemetery (Madison, Wisconsin)