Bernhard "Benny" Gettelman (December 23, 1889 – August 30, 1965) was an American Republican politician. He served 27 years in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing Milwaukee, and earlier served one term in the State Assembly.
Bernhard Gettelman | |
|---|---|
 Portrait from the 1923 Wisconsin Blue Book | |
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 5th district | |
| In office January 2, 1939 – April 29, 1954 | |
| Preceded by | Harold V. Schoenecker |
| Succeeded by | Walter L. Merten |
| In office January 1, 1923 – January 7, 1935 | |
| Preceded by | Rudolph Beyer |
| Succeeded by | Harold V. Schoenecker |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Milwaukee 7th district | |
| In office January 1, 1917 – January 6, 1919 | |
| Preceded by | Edward Zinn |
| Succeeded by | Alex C. Ruffing |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 23, 1889 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | August 30, 1965 (aged 75) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Resting place | Pinelawn Memorial Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Republican |
| Nickname | Benny |
Biography edit
Gettelman was born in Chicago, Illinois, and moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at a young age. He worked for the Electric Company for ten years, and was then appointed a deputy sheriff in Milwaukee County.[1]
In 1916 he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly, where he authored the "Fireman's law". He did not run for a second term in 1918 and returned to the sheriff's office.[1]
He was subsequently promoted to chief deputy sheriff. He led the sheriff's force present at the "Cudahy riots"—a violent clash resulting from a labor dispute in 1919. During the riots, he ordered this men to fire over the heads of the rioters.[1]
In 1922, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate. He was re-elected in 1926 and 1930, but was defeated seeking a fourth term in 1934. He returned and was elected again 1938, and went on to serve another 15 years in the Senate. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1932, 1936, 1940, 1944 and 1952.[2]
He resigned his Senate seat in April 1954 after he was appointed U.S. customs collector at Milwaukee by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.[3] He served in this role through the end of the Eisenhower administration and immediately began discussing a resumption of his political activities.[4] He ran for his old seat in the State Senate in 1962, but was defeated by Democrat Charles J. Schmidt.[5]
Gettelman died of pneumonia at a Milwaukee hospital on August 30, 1965.[2]
References edit
- ^ a b c Holmes, Fred L., ed. (1925). "Biographical" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1925 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 646. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
- ^ a b "Gettelman, Legislator, Dies at 75". Oshkosh Northwestern. August 31, 1965. p. 1. Retrieved September 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Sen. Gettelman Resigns His Seat for U.S. Job". Wisconsin State Journal. April 28, 1954. p. 12. Retrieved September 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gettelman May Again Make Race for State Senate". The Capital Times. August 28, 1961. p. 26. Retrieved September 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Theobald, H. Rupert, ed. (1964). "Elections in Wisconsin" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1964 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 716, 762. Retrieved September 24, 2021.