RIP Lee Sherman Dreyfuss

[TheMightyFavog]

http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080103/SPJ0101/80103057

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Former Gov. Lee Sherman Dreyfus who served one term starting in 1979, died at his Waukesha home Wednesday night, his son said Thursday. He was 81.

Dreyfus died while watching television, said his son, Lee Dreyfus Jr. He was elected governor in 1978, upsetting U.S. Rep. Bob Kasten in the Republican primary and then defeating acting Gov. Martin Schreiber in the general election. He served in the post for four years.

Dreyfus also was a member of the University of Wisconsin-Madison faculty and was chancellor at UW-Stevens Point before resigning to run for governor. He later was a member of the UW System Board of Regents and served briefly as an interim state superintendent of public instruction.

He graduated from Washington High School in Milwaukee and earned his undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees at UW-Madison. He also served in the Navy during World War II.

From what I've been told, He wasn't all that bad for a Republican. He did pass a gay rights law, IIRC. Plus, he made it clear that he was not thrilled at the Current crop of Pugs' desire to gut the budget of the UW System.

[sjdnb]

1. Qutotes from his obituary JSOnline

Lee Sherman Dreyfus, a Wisconsin governor who broke and rewrote just about every political rule, died last night at his home in Waukesha, his son said today.

"In '76 I was getting more concerned about the fact that we were sliding into one-party power in this state and I saw at that point what I viewed as ...... the absolute arrogance growing in the Democratic Party and a bunker mentality growing in the shrinking Republican Party.'

So Dreyfus joined the Republican Party in 1978.

"My mother always taught me it was polite to join a party before you take it over," he quipped.

In 1982, Dreyfus stunned Democrats when he signed pioneering legislation, making Wisconsin the first state to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, housing and public accommodations.

"There are some questions that government has no business asking," Dreyfus said. He later went on records in support of civil marriage for same-sex couples.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=703029

[Jimbo S]

2. I would call him an old-school Republican

before the party was taken over by the current crop of extremists.

He wrote a weekly opinion piece for the Waukesha Freeman. I'm not in his party and didn't always agree with his ideology, but at times he was moderate and found him insightful. Thought his opinions were always well thought out.

[dembotoz]

3. will never forgive him

how he gave uw stevens point forest to sentry insurance while I went there.

He always knew where his bread was buttered

[TheMightyFavog]

4. Schmeekle's still there...

I should know, I made enough illicit late night walks through it when I was going there.

I guess it's not as big at it was when you were there, but it's still a nice place.

[goddess40]

6. Sucked up to the college students than screwed them

He got them enthused and working for him then turned around and jacked tuition. So there's little sympathy here - he lived a long life.

[yourout]

5. By todays standards he would be labeled a flaming liberal..

[vireo]

7. LSD RIP