# Luther Youngdahl *27th governor of Minnesota (1947–1951) and United States district judge for the District of Columbia* Luther Wallace Youngdahl (May 29, 1896 – June 21, 1978) was a Minnesota lawyer and judge and a member of the [[Republican Party (United States)]]. He served as the 27th [[Governor of Minnesota]] and later sat on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.[^1][^2][^3] He held the governorship from January 8, 1947, to September 27, 1951. On that date he resigned and [[C. Elmer Anderson]] became governor.[^1][^4] Youngdahl succeeded Edward Thye, who was elected to the [[United States Senate]] on November 5, 1946.[^5] The project's Time Table draws its entry for the January 8, 1947, inauguration from the Legislative Reference Library. That entry records that he launched "humanity in government." He was re-elected on November 2, 1948, and won a third term on November 7, 1950.[^1] The administration's documented outputs include the following: - employment anti-discrimination laws; - desegregation of the Minnesota National Guard; - mental-health reforms; - a ban on slot machines; - stronger anti-liquor laws.[^6] President Harry S. Truman appointed him to the federal bench in July 1951. The Senate confirmed him on August 28, 1951, a month before he left the governorship. He took senior status in 1966.[^3][^7][^6] ## Education and career Youngdahl was born in [[Minneapolis]] on May 29, 1896, and finished Minneapolis South High School.[^8][^6] Gustavus Adolphus College awarded him a Bachelor of Arts in 1919. The Minnesota College of Law, today [[Mitchell Hamline School of Law]], awarded him a Bachelor of Laws in 1921. During World War I he held the rank of second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.[^6] He worked for the City of Minneapolis as an assistant city attorney from 1921 to 1924, then practised privately until 1930.[^6] His judicial career followed three steps: - the Minneapolis Municipal Court, 1930–1936; - the district court for Minnesota's Fourth Judicial District, 1936–1942; - the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]], as an associate justice, 1942–1946.[^6] ## As governor ### Governor's program Youngdahl's welfare program answered a postwar rise in demand for basic services. Wikipedia quotes its aim as "to prevent distress among dependent children, the blind, and the aged."[^6] He campaigned for school funding, pointing to low teacher pay and a need for new buildings.[^6] His housing proposal had five points: 1. a state housing [[Commission]] with full-time staff and a citizens' advisory group; 2. postponing all but essential public construction until the shortage ended; 3. enabling the state and municipalities to use federal housing acts; 4. state rent control if federal control lapsed while still needed; 5. redevelopment laws allowing public acquisition and clearance of blighted areas, with lots resold for private home building.[^6] ### Civil rights and reform measures On June 1, 1947, a report was submitted to Youngdahl. The Legislative Reference Library catalogues it as *The Negro and His Home in Minnesota*.[^9] The project's Time Table and Wikipedia credit his administration in 1947 with anti-discrimination laws in employment and with desegregating the Minnesota National Guard.[^6] The record assembled here does not include the session-law text of those enactments. In 1949 he signed bills banning slot machines; the Time Table places these within an anti-corruption campaign.[^6] Wikipedia records that he also strengthened anti-liquor laws, and that both measures went through over the opposition of the [[Legislature]].[^6] His mental-health reforms included burning more than 300 straitjackets and restraints in October 1949.[^6] Wikipedia also lists these outputs of the administration: - more money for public education; - expanded public housing; - higher veterans' benefits; - programs for young people's health.[^6] ### Resignation Youngdahl resigned on September 27, 1951. C. Elmer Anderson, also a Republican, became governor upon that resignation.[^4][^1] ## Federal judicial service The death of Judge Thomas Alan Goldsborough left a vacancy on the federal district court in the District of Columbia. At a July 2, 1951, meeting, [[Hubert Humphrey]], then Minnesota's junior U.S. senator, put Youngdahl's name to President Truman, and Truman accepted it.[^6] Truman met Youngdahl on July 5 and appointed him on July 6.[^6][^3] Senate confirmation followed on August 28, 1951, and the commission was issued on August 29.[^3][^7] He took senior status on his 70th birthday, May 29, 1966.[^3] As a senior judge he argued for education and job training for prisoners and for less crowded drug-rehabilitation programs. He held that harsh sentences did not reduce crime.[^6] In a 1971 address to Congress he credited both parties: Democrats for backing revenue sharing and decentralization, and Republicans for the proposed Family Assistance Plan, which would have guaranteed families a minimum income. He urged the two parties to set partisanship aside and work together.[^6] ## Personal life A Lutheran, Youngdahl spoke of "spiritual progress." He defined it as a moral and spiritual advance that makes possible lasting peace and representative government.[^6] His son, William Youngdahl, a Lutheran pastor in Omaha, Nebraska, appears in the 1967 documentary *A Time for Burning*.[^6] Youngdahl died at 82 at his home in Washington, D.C., on June 21, 1978, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[^6][^3] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Youngdahl, a Republican, was governor of [[Minnesota]] from January 8, 1947, to September 27, 1951.[^1][^2][^10] - He succeeded Edward Thye and was succeeded by C. Elmer Anderson.[^5][^4] ### What - 1947: the administration is credited with anti-discrimination laws in employment and with desegregating the Minnesota National Guard.[^6] - 1949: he signed bills banning slot machines.[^6] - He strengthened anti-liquor laws; the record gives no date for this.[^6] ### When - November 5, 1946: Edward Thye was elected to the U.S. Senate, and Youngdahl succeeded him as governor.[^5] - January 8, 1947: Youngdahl was inaugurated as governor.[^1] - June 1, 1947: *The Negro and His Home in Minnesota* was submitted to Youngdahl.[^9] - November 2, 1948: he was re-elected governor.[^1] - November 7, 1950: he won a third term.[^1] - July 6, 1951: Truman appointed him to the federal district court.[^3] - August 28, 1951: the Senate confirmed him.[^3] - September 27, 1951: he resigned as governor and Anderson took office.[^4] ### Where - Minnesota, for the governorship (1947–1951); Washington, D.C., for the federal bench (from 1951).[^1][^3] ## Notes [^1]: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, *Governor Luther Youngdahl* (n.d.) — office, party, tenure January 8, 1947 – September 27, 1951; 1948 and 1950 elections; launch of "humanity in government" (per Time Table rows TL-0013, TL-0029, TL-0040). https://www.lrl.mn.gov/mngov/govbio?govid=12 [^2]: National Governors Association, *Luther Wallace Youngdahl* (n.d.) — service as governor of Minnesota. https://www.nga.org/governor/luther-wallace-youngdahl/ [^3]: Federal Judicial Center, *Luther Youngdahl Federal Judicial Service Record* (n.d.) — federal appointment, confirmation, commission, senior status and death. https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/youngdahl-luther-w [^4]: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, *Governor C. Elmer Anderson* (n.d.) — Anderson (R) became governor upon Youngdahl's resignation, September 27, 1951. https://www.lrl.mn.gov/mngov/govbio?govid=11 [^5]: Wikipedia, *Edward J. Thye* (n.d.) — Thye's election to the U.S. Senate on November 5, 1946, and Youngdahl's succession as governor. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_J._Thye [^6]: Wikipedia, *Luther Youngdahl* (rev. 1380320635, retrieved 2026-10-25) — education, early career, governorship program and measures, federal appointment sequence, senior-judge advocacy, personal life. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luther_Youngdahl [^7]: Historical Society of the D.C. Circuit, *Luther Youngdahl* (n.d.) — service on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. https://dcchs.org/judges/youngdahl-luther/ [^8]: Hennepin County Library, *Governor Luther Youngdahl* biographical sketch (n.d.) — birth in Minneapolis. https://hclib.tumblr.com/post/619478446407647232/governor-luther-youngdahl-born-in-minneapolis-on [^9]: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, *The Negro and His Home in Minnesota* (catalog record) (1947) — report submitted to Governor Youngdahl, June 1, 1947. https://www.lrl.mn.gov/edocs/edocs?oclcnumber=01884075 [^10]: Ballotpedia, *Luther Youngdahl* (n.d.) — Youngdahl's office and party. https://ballotpedia.org/Luther_Youngdahl