Orville Freeman

Orville Freeman
16th United States Secretary of Agriculture
In office January 21, 1961 – January 20, 1969
President	John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson
Preceded by	Ezra Taft Benson
Succeeded by	Clifford M. Hardin
29th Governor of Minnesota
In office January 5, 1955 – January 2, 1961
Lieutenant	Karl Rolvaag
Preceded by	C. Elmer Anderson
Succeeded by	Elmer L. Andersen
Personal details
Born	Orville Lothrop Freeman (1918-05-09)May 9, 1918 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Died	February 20, 2003(2003-02-20) (aged 84) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Resting place	Lakewood Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Jane Shields ​ (m. 1942)​
Children	2, including Michael
Education	University of Minnesota (BA, LLB)
Military service
Branch/service	United States Marine Corps
Rank	Major
Battles/wars	World War II  • Battle of Bougainville

Orville Lothrop Freeman (May 9, 1918 – February 20, 2003) was an American Democratic politician who served as the 29th governor of Minnesota from 1955 to 1961, and as the U.S. secretary of agriculture from 1961 to 1969 under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. He was one of the founding members of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party and was strongly influential in the merger of the pre-DFL Minnesota Democratic and Farmer-Labor parties. Freeman nominated Kennedy for president at the 1960 Democratic National Convention.