Gaylord Nelson

Gaylord Nelson
Nelson in 1963
United States Senator from Wisconsin
In office January 8, 1963 – January 3, 1981
Preceded by	Alexander Wiley
Succeeded by	Bob Kasten
35th Governor of Wisconsin
In office January 5, 1959 – January 7, 1963
Lieutenant	Philleo Nash Warren P. Knowles
Preceded by	Vernon Wallace Thomson
Succeeded by	John Reynolds
Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 26th district
In office January 3, 1949 – January 5, 1959
Preceded by	Fred Risser
Succeeded by	Horace W. Wilkie
Personal details
Born	Gaylord Anton Nelson (1916-06-04)June 4, 1916 Clear Lake, Wisconsin, U.S.
Died	July 3, 2005(2005-07-03) (aged 89) Kensington, Maryland, U.S.
Resting place	Clear Lake Cemetery, Clear Lake, Wisconsin
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Carrie Lee Dotson ​ (m. 1947)​
Children	3
Education	San Jose State University (BA) University of Wisconsin–Madison (LLB)
Awards	Presidential Medal of Freedom (1995)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Battles/wars	World War II

Gaylord Anton Nelson (June 4, 1916 – July 3, 2005) was an American politician from Wisconsin who served as a United States senator and governor. He was a member of the Democratic Party and the founder of Earth Day, which launched a new wave of environmental activism.