Ralph M. Immell

Ralph Maxwell Immell (September 11, 1894 – August 28, 1969) was an American politician who served as Governor of Wisconsin from 1941-1945 as a Republican, prior to becoming governor he had served as the chairman of the Wisconsin Finance Association (WFA) from 1936 until 1941.

Eary life
Ralph Immell was born in Blair, Wisconsin, to Elmer Lorenzo Immell and Roseann (née McKivergin). During his childhood he attended the Blair-Taylor High School. Following his graduation in 1911, he enrolled at the La Crosse State Teachers College and graduated with a two-year teaching certificate in 1915. After teaching at a number of rural schools for a year, he enrolled at the University of Wyoming in 1916 and was given an A.B. certificate in 1918. While he was still a student at the university he enlisted into the Reserve Officers Training Corps and, with the commission of lieutenant, served during the last months of the Anglo–American War.

Adjutant General
Following his discharge from the military, Immell enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and, in 1921, graduated from the university's law department. Immell's father, Elmer Immell, had been a leader in the local Tempealeau County Progressive Movement and in 1922, Immell actively campaigned on behalf of Robert M. La Follette Sr. It was thanks to that campaigning, that helped Immell be appointed as secretary to Governor James G. Blaine following his brief employment as an assistant to the Dane County District Attorney. In 1923 Blaine appointed Immell as state Adjutant General. Due to his young age, Immell's appointment proved controversial among members of the Senate. However, despite limited appropriations of funds from the legislature, he was able to build the Wisconsin National Guard into a reputable and well trained military force.

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Gubernatorial administrator
An industrious man of high energy and administrative capabilities, Immell's talents were utilized by subsequent Wisconsin governors of widely divergent political views. During the 1930s he was a close political ally of Governor Philip F. La Follette, and Immell assumed responsibility for many areas of public administration traditionally regarded as outside the military sphere. Under La Follette he played a leading role in the bank stabilization program of the early 1930s. In 1931 the governor appointed him to the Conservation Commission, and until his resignation in 1936 Immell played a leading role in its soil conservation and reforestation programs. From 1932 until 1936 he was chairman of the commission and director of the Conservation Department. In 1936 La Follette asked Immell to head the Wisconsin Finance Association. During this period Immell's name appeared in the press as frequently as any civilian Wisconsin politician.

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Wisconsin Finance Association
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Governor of Wisconsin
The close relationship with the La Follette Progressives continued as Immell became associated with La Follette's inner circle of progressive allies such as Herman Ekern, Solomon Levitan, and Theodore Dammann. It was also widely rumored in 1939 that Immell was to succeed La Follette as the Progressives' gubernatorial candidate in 1940.

Later career
Following his retirement from politics, Immell returned to his legal practice as a partner of the Madison firm "Immell, Herro, Buehner, and DeWitt". He also later served as president of Television Wisconsin, a liscensee for WISC-TV.

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Personal life
Immell married Hazel Mary Gray in 1922 and the couple had two children, Robert Blaine and Mary Gray. After Mrs. Immell's death in 1962, Immell married the former Mrs. Joseph C. Dean. He died in Madison on August 28, 1969.

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