George N. Craig

Infobox Governor
name= George N. Craig


caption=
order=39th
office=Governor of Indiana
term_start=January 12, 1953
term_end=January 14, 1957
lieutenant=Harold W. Handley
predecessor=Henry Schricker
successor=Harold W. Handley
birth_date= August 6, 1909
birth_place= Brazil, Indiana
death_date= December 17, 1992
death_place= Brazil, Indiana
party= Republican
profession= Lawyer, Soldier
spouse= Kathryn L. Heiliger
religion=Methodist
alma matar=Indiana University
footnotes=

George North Craig (1909-1992), was governor of the U.S. state of Indiana from 1953 until 1957.

Biography

Craig was born August 6, 1909 in Brazil, Indiana. He attended Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington where he earned a law degree in 1932 and entered practice with his father. He served in World War II, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel while serving in the European theater. Hie earned multiple combat awards from the governments of France, Russia, and the U.S.After being discharged, he became heavily involved in the American Legion and became it's national commander in 1949. He initiated the Legion's "Tide for Toys" campaign which was intended to distribute toys to foreign children.

In 1952 he ran for governor of Indiana as a Republican and won. He was inaugurated on January 12, 1953. Under his administration he saw to the reorganization of the State Department of Corrections and State Department of Health. The Indiana Toll Road was authorized and the state's highway safety laws were enacted during his tenure. He was even featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1955. [ [http://time-proxy.yaga.com/time/covers/0,16641,1101550307,00.html] ] Unfortunately, his political future was derailed when several of his closest advisor's were convicted of bribery in 1958. Craig's term ended January 10, 1957 and, prohibited by state law from seeking a second consecutive term, he did not run for reelection.

After his political career he practiced corporate law in Washington D.C. and in Los Angeles, California until 1967 when he returned to his small private practice in Brazil. He died December 17, 1992 in Indianapolis at the age of 83 and was buried in the Clearview Cemetery of Brazil.

References

ee also

*List of Governors of Indiana

External links

*cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/history/4128.htm|title=Indiana Historical Bureau: George N. Craig|publisher=Indiana Historical Bureau|accessdate=2008-05-21
*cite web|url=http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=8cdc224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRDti|title=Indiana Governor George N. Craig|publisher=National Governors Association|accessdate=2008-05-21
*cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE4DF153CF93BA25751C1A964958260|publisher=New York Times|title="George Craig, 83, Popular Governor Of Indiana in 50's"|accessdate=2008-05-21