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Military Service: Army

War(s) Served:  World War I

MORLEY I. GRISWOLD, acting governor of Nevada, was born in Elko, Nevada, on October 10, 1890. His education was attained at the University of Michigan, where he earned an A.B. degree in 1913 and a law degree in 1915. During World War I, he served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army, and later participated in the American Expeditionary Force. After his military service, he established his legal career in his hometown of Elko. Griswold first entered politics as the lieutenant governor of Nevada, a position he held from 1927 to 1934. On March 21, 1934, Governor Frederick Balzar died in office, and Griswold, who was the lieutenant governor at the time, assumed the duties of the acting governor. During his tenure, additional funding was secured for highway improvements and relief measures were implemented to ease the economic depression. After running unsuccessfully for a term of his own, Griswold left office on January 7, 1935. He became state Republican party chair in 1942 and served as delegate to the national convention on several occasions. He later retired from politics and returned to his legal practice. Governor Morley I. Griswold passed away on October 3, 1951. He was cremated and the ashes were scattered by plane over north central Nevada. A cenotaph was erected in the Elko Cemetery.

Sources:

Nevada State Archives: Morley Isaac Griswold 1934-1935

Nevada State Library and Archives: Nevada Governors' Biographical Information

The Political Graveyard

Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 3, Westport, Conn.; Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols.