Wikipedia

Ross Rasmussen

Ross H. Rasmussen (January 24, 1917 – March 24, 2010) was a Democratic politician and farmer from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from 1961 to 1968. He was the 1966 Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor.

Ross Rasmussen
Member of the Nebraska Legislature
In office
January 3, 1961 – November 25, 1968
Preceded byRay Simmons
Succeeded byE. Thome Johnson
Constituency11th district (1961–1965)
15th district (1965–1968)
Personal details
Born(1917-01-24)January 24, 1917
Lincoln, Nebraska
DiedMarch 24, 2010(2010-03-24) (aged 93)
Fremont, Nebraska
PartyDemocratic
Spouse
Alice Willa Hoegemeyer
​
​
(m. 1943)​
Children3 (Ruth Ann, Janice Kay, Nina Beth)
EducationUniversity of Nebraska
OccupationFarmer, agricultural researcher
Awards
Bronze Star Medal
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service
1942–1946

Early life

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Rasmussen was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1917, and attended Bristow High School and Blair High School.[1] He then attended the University of Nebraska, graduating from the College of Agriculture in 1942.[1] He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and was stationed in Europe, earning a Bronze Star.[1][2] Upon returning to Nebraska, Rasmussen took up farming, raising cattle and growing grass seeds.[1][2] He received a patent for bluegrass turf, the second one ever issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.[1]

In 1958, Rasmussen ran for the Dodge County Board of Supervisors from the 5th district,[3] and won the Democratic nomination unopposed.[4] In the general election, he defeated incumbent Republican Supervisor Howard P. Johnson, who was seeking re-election.[5]

Nebraska Legislature

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In 1960, State Senator Ray Simmons declined to seek re-election to a third term,[6] and Rasmussen ran to succeed him in the 11th district, which included Dodge and Washington counties.[2] In the nonpartisan primary, Rasmussen faced former Fremont City Councilman Nick Neff and former Washington County Attorney Walter Huber.[7][8] Rasmussen placed second in the primary, winning 33 percent of the vote to Neff's 39 percent and Huber's 28 percent.[9] Neff and Rasmussen advanced to the general election,[10] where Rasmussen defeated Neff, winning 57–43 percent.[9][11]

Rasmussen was considered a potential candidate for Congress in 1962 from the 1st district,[12] but ultimately declined to run, instead opting to seek re-election. No candidates filed to run against him,[13] but shortly before the primary election, businessman Richard Wiechman filed to run as a write-in candidate.[14] Rasmussen placed first in the primary election, receiving 70 percent of the vote,[15] and Wiechman placed second, winning 2,309 votes, earning a spot on the general election ballot.[16] Rasmussen only narrowly defeated Wiechman in the general election, receiving 51 percent of the vote to his 49 percent.[15][17]

In 1964, following redistricting, Rasmussen ran for re-election in the 15th district, which included only Dodge County.[18] He was challenged by Wilmer Westphal, a public relations official with the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, and farmer Orville Von Seggern.[19][20] Rasmussen placed first in the primary election, winning 47 percent of the vote to Von Seggern's 33 percent and Westphal's 20 percent.[21] Rasmussen and Von Seggern advanced to the general election,[22] where Rasmussen narrowly defeated Von Seggern, winning 52–48 percent.[21][23]

Rasmussen ran for Lieutenant Governor in 1966,[24] and faced Hazeldeane Carpenter, the wife of State Senator Terry Carpenter, in the Democratic primary.[25] Rasmussen defeated Carpenter in the primary in a landslide, winning 66 percent of the vote to her 34 percent.[26] In the general election, he ran against businessman John E. Everroad, the Republican nominee.[27] Everroad defeated Rasmussen by a wide margin, receiving 61 percent of the vote to Rasmussen's 39 percent.[26][28]

In 1968, Rasmussen ran for re-election, and was challenged by Dodge County Supervisor E. Thome Johnson and former Fremont Mayor Win Menninger.[29] Rasmussen narrowly placed third in the primary election, receiving 42 votes less than Johnson.[30][31]

After Johnson won the general election, Rasmussen announced that he would resign from the legislature. He cited the legislature's special December session, and urged Governor Norbert Tiemann to appoint Johnson as his successor so he could serve in the session.[32] Rasmussen resigned upon the certification of the election results on November 25, 1968.[33][34]

Post-legislative career

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In 1968, after losing the primary election, Rasmussen was appointed as the executive director of the Nebraska School Board Association,[35] serving until 1980.[36]

Rasmussen ran for the Dodge County Board of Supervisors in 1986, challenging incumbent Republican Supervisor Loell Strand.[36] He lost the Democratic primary to Albert Wisnieski.[37] He subsequently announced that he would likely not run for office again, and returned to farming, developing a new hybrid grass.[38]

Death

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Rasmussen died on March 24, 2010.[39]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Nebraska Blue Book 1966 (PDF). Nebraska Legislative Council. 1967. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Ross Rasmussen Files For State Legislature". Fremont Tribune. February 29, 1960. p. 1. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Ross Rasmussen Enters Contest for Supervisor". Fremont Tribune. January 24, 1958. p. 12. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "County Candidates List Expenses in Campaign". Fremont Tribune. May 27, 1958. p. 9. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Retiring Board Aide Asks Surveyor's Office Study". Fremont Tribune. November 20, 1958. p. 17. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Only 22 Senators Refiled". Lincoln Evening Journal. February 14, 1960. p. 13. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "W. N. Neff Will File For State Legislature Seat". Fremont Tribune. February 23, 1960. p. 1. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "W. G. Huber Files For Legislature". Pilot-Tribune. March 14, 1960. p. 1. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. 1 2 Marsh, Frank (1960). Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, Primary Election, May 10, 1960, General Election, November 8, 1960 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Official Count Shows No Change in Winners". Fremont Tribune. May 18, 1960. p. 1. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "At Least Three of 31 State Senate Incumbents Ousted". Kearney Hub. November 10, 1960. p. 11. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Rasmussen Does Not Plan Congress Race". Omaha World-Herald. January 31, 1962. p. 18. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Rall, Ellis (March 18, 1962). "Campaigning Has Less Appeal in 1962 Than In 1960, Count Shows". Sunday Journal and Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. p. 1B, 2B. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Wiechman To Run For Unicameral". Fremont Tribune. May 7, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. 1 2 Marsh, Frank (1962). Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, Primary Election, May 15, 1962, General Election, November 6, 1962 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Miller, Coen Victorious; Wiechman in Fall Race". Fremont Tribune. May 16, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "Former Senators Return". Hastings Daily Tribune. November 7, 1962. p. 16. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Rasmussen, Fleming File For Re-Election". Lincoln Star. January 8, 1964. p. 5. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "A. Westphal Seeks State Senatorship". Fremont Tribune. February 25, 1964. p. 1. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "Hooper Man Bidding for Legislature". Fremont Tribune. March 11, 1964. p. 1. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. 1 2 Marsh, Frank (1964). Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, Primary Election, May 12, 1964, General Election, November 3, 1964 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Von Seggern to Meet Rasmussen This Fall". Fremont Tribune. May 13, 1964. p. 1. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ "Sen. Rasmussen Was Re-Elected". Pilot-Tribune & Enterprise. Blair, Nebraska. November 19, 1964. p. 1. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ↑ "Carpenter Drops Governor, Will Run for Legislature". Omaha World-Herald. February 12, 1966. p. 3. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ "9 Seek Lieutenant Governor Position". Lincoln Evening Journal. May 5, 1966. p. 8. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. 1 2 Marsh, Frank (1966). Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, Primary Election, May 10, 1966, General Election, November 8, 1966 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Five Election Races Are Being Watched". Grand Island Independent. October 31, 1966. p. 2. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ Thomas, Fred (November 9, 1966). "Curtis Victory Repeat of '48; Tiemann to Face Cash Crisis: Win Brings Day of Firsts For Banker". Evening World-Herald. Omaha, Nebraska. p. 1. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "Johnson, Renninger File For Legislature". Fremont Tribune. March 15, 1968. p. 1. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ↑ Marsh, Frank (1968). Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, Primary Election, May 14, 1968, General Election, November 5, 1968 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Absentee Votes Counted; Race Results Unchanged". Fremont Tribune. May 17, 1968. p. 1. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ↑ "Hooper Legislator Asks Replacement". Omaha World-Herald. November 9, 1968. p. 24. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ↑ "2 Solons To Serve". Lincoln Evening Journal. November 21, 1968. p. 8. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ↑ Srb, Hugo F., ed. (1968). Legislative Journal of the State of Nebraska: Seventy-Ninth (Extraordinary) Session (PDF). p. 5. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Senator Named To School Board Association Post". Lincoln Star. June 6, 1968. p. 48. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. 1 2 Benning, Victoria (May 8, 1986). "Jail, spending the key supervisor issues". Fremont Tribune. p. A1. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ↑ "Republican incumbent wins district primary". Fremont Tribune. May 14, 1986. p. A3. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ↑ Isakson, Doug (June 23, 1992). "Farmer develops hybrid grass". Fremont Tribune. p. B4. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ↑ "Former state senator Rasmussen dies at 93". Fremont Tribune. March 27, 2010. p. B2. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
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