Roger B. Wilson

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox officeholder Roger Byron Wilson (born October 10, 1948) is an American politician who served as the 44th lieutenant governor of Missouri from January 1993 to October 2000 and as the 52nd governor of Missouri from October 2000 to January 2001. Wilson was serving his second four-year term as lieutenant governor and was preparing to retire from elected public service when Governor Mel Carnahan died in a plane crash on October 16, 2000. Wilson first became acting governor and was sworn in as governor when Carnahan’s death was confirmed.

After leaving the governor’s office, Wilson was elected by fellow Democrats to serve as Missouri Democratic Party chair.

Early life and education

Wilson was born in Boone County, Missouri. His family was prominent in local politics. His father Roger Woodrow Wilson served as Boone County recorder for four years and then served Boone County Collector for 26 years until his death in 1976.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> His grandfather Roger Isaac Wilson served as the Boone County sheriff, being killed in a shootout with bank robbers in 1933.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref> His maternal grandfather, Ned Gibbs was also in politics, serving as Boone County recorder.<ref name=":2" /> He attended college at Central Methodist College and graduated class of 1977. He was a school teacher and an elementary school principal at Russell Boulevard Elementary School in Columbia, Missouri.<ref name=":1" />

Political career

Wilson began his political career as Boone County Collector in 1976, succeeding his late father.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> He was elected to the Missouri State Senate from the 19th District in a 1979 special election<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and was re-elected by large majorities in 1980, 1984, and 1988.<ref name=":0" /> During his tenure, Wilson would become chair of the Appropriations Committee.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1992, he ran for Lieutenant Governor of Missouri, and won by a plurality against State Auditor Margaret B. Kelly. He would win a second term in 1996.

Lieutenant Governor

Wilson's term lasted from 1993 to 2000. During his tenure, voters ratified legislation which expanded the role of Lieutenant Governor,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> a role once derided for its uselessness.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As a result, Wilson served on numerous state boards, such as the Missouri Housing Development Commission, chairing the Missouri Tourism Commission, and being a co-chair of the Missouri Commission on Management and Productivity.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1995, Wilson served as the tie breaking vote, defeating a provision that would have enabled a referendum on concealed carry. The move proved controversial among opponents of concealed carry and Governor Carnahan.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Wilson served as acting governor on numerous occasions, such as in 1997, when for a few weeks, Governor Carnahan was away overseas on a trade mission in Southeast Asia.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Governor of Missouri

Wilson initially was seen as a strong potential candidate to run for Governor in 2000.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, owing to being significantly outraised by State Treasurer Bob Holden, and wanting to spend more time with his family, Wilson opted not run for Governor.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A year later, he declined to run for re-election to Lt. Governor.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In October 2000, on his way to a campaign event for U.S. Senate, Governor Mel Carnahan died in an airplane crash.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Wilson, who was in St. Louis preparing for an event the next day, was immediately rushed back to the state's capital by state police to serve as acting governor.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was officially sworn in as Governor two days later after Carnahan's death was confirmed by authorities.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Wilson served as governor until the end of Carnahan's unfinished term in 2001. Following Governor Carnahan's posthumous election to the U.S. Senate, Wilson appointed his widow Jean Carnahan to serve in his place.

Chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party

In August 2004, Wilson became Chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party and endorsed Claire McCaskill in her bid to unseat incumbent Governor Bob Holden in the Democratic Primary.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> McCaskill won the primary, but lost the general election to Republican Matt Blunt. In January 2007, Wilson announced he would not seek an additional term as Democratic Chairman.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Subsequent career

On April 12, 2012, Wilson pleaded guilty to federal charges of money laundering. Wilson had improperly donated money to the Missouri Democratic Party and billed the public entity Missouri Employers Mutual for legal fees to cover it up.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Wilson pled guilty and was fined $2,000 by the Missouri Ethics Commission.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In July he was sentenced to two years of probation on the money laundering charge.<ref>Probation in Campaign Fund Case, by the Associated Press, July 10, 2012</ref>

Wilson was also ousted as President and CEO of Missouri Employers Mutual in Columbia, Missouri in June 2011.<ref name="wilson">Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Template:C-SPAN
• National Governors Association

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