Gerald Lorge

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Gerald D. Lorge
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 14th district
In office
January 3, 1955 – January 7, 1985
Preceded byGordon A. Bubolz
Succeeded byJoseph Leean
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Outagamie 2nd district
In office
January 1, 1951 – January 3, 1955
Preceded byWilliam M. Rohan
Succeeded byWilliam T. Sullivan
Personal details
Born(1922-07-09)July 9, 1922
Bear Creek, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedFebruary 14, 2001(2001-02-14) (aged 78)
Bear Creek, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeSaint Marys Parish Cemetery, Bear Creek, Wisconsin
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Christina Cordelia "Tina" Ziegler
​
​
(m. 1958⁠–⁠2001)​
Children
Alma materMarquette University (JD)
OccupationLawyer
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1942–1945
RankMaster Sergeant
UnitMarine Aircraft Group 13, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing
Battles/warsWorld War II

Gerald David Lorge (July 9, 1922 – February 14, 2001) was an American lawyer and Republican politician. He served 30 years in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing Outagamie and Waupaca counties, and earlier served four years in the State Assembly. At the time of his death, he was the fifth longest-serving member of the Wisconsin Senate.[1]

Early life[edit]

Born in Bear Creek, Outagamie County, Wisconsin, Lorge graduated from Bear Creek High School and worked briefly at the YMCA before the outbreak of World War II. In 1942, he enlisted for service in the United States Marine Corps and, in 1943, was deployed to the Pacific theater with the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing.[1] In early 1944, he was injured and spent several weeks at a naval hospital on Samoa.[2] Afterward, he was reassigned to San Diego, California, and subsequently received an honorable discharge.

Career[edit]

Lorge was one of three Republicans challenging incumbent Assemblymember William M. Rohan in the 1950 primary. Rohan had long been a member of the Democratic Party, but had run as a Republican since 1946, after the collapse of the Wisconsin Progressive Party. Lorge prevailed in the four-way primary,[3] and won the general election with 59% of the vote, with Rohan in the race as an independent candidate.[4] Rohan returned for a head-to-head contest in the 1952 Republican primary, but Lorge prevailed again.[5]

In 1946, he had begun attending Marquette University but did not complete a degree before being elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly. Following the end of the spring 1951 legislative session, however, he returned to Marquette and received his J.D. in 1952. He started a law practice in Bear Creek that year, and was re-elected to the Assembly that Fall.

In 1954, State Senator Gordon A. Bubolz resigned, necessitating a 1954 special election to fill the remaining two years of his term. Lorge won a contested Republican primary and was unopposed in the November election. He was subsequently elected to a full term in 1956, and was re-elected six more times.

After the death of U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy in 1957, Lorge ran in the Republican primary to serve out the remainder of his term, but came in a distant 6th place.[6]

In 1974, Lorge made another attempt at statewide election, running for Attorney General of Wisconsin. He was unopposed for the Republican nomination, but lost the general election to Bronson La Follette, who was returning to the office he had previously held in the 1960s.[7]

In the 1980s, Wisconsin underwent a painful redistricting process as the Governor and Legislature were unable to agree on a map. The issue was referred to federal courts, and a court-ordered map was implemented in 1982. Prompted by the court's map, which eviscerated existing legislative districts, the Legislature came back and agreed on a replacement map in 1983. After these edits, Lorge's 14th State Senate district had been radically redrawn. For the previous 30 years, the district had been anchored on his native Outagamie County and neighboring Waupaca County. In 1983, the district now barely contained any of Outagamie County, and stretched all the way across central Wisconsin to Monroe County.[8]

Rather than run for another term in the mangled district, Lorge, who was then the most senior member of the State Senate, chose to retire.[8][1] His son, William, attempted a run in the new Senate district, but was defeated in the Republican primary by Waupaca businessman Joseph Leean.[9]

After leaving the Senate, Lorge made one final bid for elected office in 1985, running for Wisconsin circuit court judge in Outagamie County, but was defeated in the primary.[10]

Lorge devoted more time to his law practice after leaving public office, and welcomed his son, Robert, as a partner in the firm, now known as Lorge & Lorge.[11]

Personal life[edit]

He married Christina "Tina" Ziegler in 1958. Together, they had two sons and three daughters. William served five terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Robert was the Republican nominee in the 2006 United States Senate election in Wisconsin, but lost to incumbent senator Herb Kohl.

Lorge died at his home in Bear Creek, Wisconsin, in February 2001.[12]

Electoral history[edit]

Wisconsin Assembly (1950, 1952)[edit]

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
1950 Primary[3] September 19 Gerald Lorge Republican 1,415 41.03% William M. Rohan (inc.) Rep. 1,075 31.17% 3,449 340
Gus Hanges Rep. 580 16.82%
Carl Konrad Rep. 379 10.99%
General[4] November 7 Gerald Lorge Republican 6,106 59.05% Katherine Sullivan Dem. 2,306 22.30% 10,340 3,800
William M. Rohan (inc.) Ind. 1,928 18.65%
1952 Primary[5] September 9 Gerald Lorge (inc.) Republican 4,190 59.12% William M. Rohan Rep. 2,897 40.88% 7,087 1,293
General[13] November 4 Gerald Lorge (inc.) Republican 9,661 66.20% Joseph Promer Dem. 4,932 33.80% 14,593 4,729

U.S. Senate (1957)[edit]

United States Senate Special Election in Wisconsin, 1957[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Primary, July 30, 1957
Republican Walter J. Kohler Jr. 109,256 34.43%
Republican Glenn R. Davis 100,532 31.68%
Republican Alvin E. O'Konski 66,784 21.05%
Republican Warren P. Knowles 23,996 7.56%
Republican Henry P. Hughes 7,488 2.36%
Republican Gerald Lorge 7,326 2.31%
Republican John C. Schafer 1,906 0.60%
Plurality 8,724 2.75%
Total votes 317,288 100.0%

Wisconsin Attorney General (1974)[edit]

Wisconsin Attorney General Election, 1974[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 5, 1974
Democratic Bronson La Follette 669,968 58.10% +12.01%
Republican Gerald Lorge 483,232 41.90% -11.41%
Plurality 186,736 16.19% 8.96%
Total votes 1,153,200 100.0% -10.50%
Democratic gain from Republican Swing 23.42%

Wisconsin Senate (1954–1980)[edit]

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
1954 Primary[14] September 14 Gerald Lorge Republican 10,168 56.71% William S. Pfankuch Rep. 7,762 43.29% 17,930 2,406
General[15] November 2 Gerald Lorge Republican 26,093 100.0% 26,093 26,093
1956 General[6] November 6 Gerald Lorge (inc.) Republican 35,915 75.18% Gordon O. Rodenz Dem. 11,858 24.82% 47,773 24,057
1960 Primary[16] September 13 Gerald Lorge (inc.) Republican 9,766 50.63% Donald L. Jury Rep. 5,895 30.56% 19,289 3,871
Gerald K. Anderson Rep. 3,628 18.81%
General[16] November 8 Gerald Lorge (inc.) Republican 38,278 68.06% Robert F. Stange Dem. 17,963 31.94% 56,241 20,315
1964 Primary[17] September 8 Gerald Lorge (inc.) Republican 10,600 67.57% George L. Buckley Rep. 5,087 32.43% 15,687 5,513
General[17] November 3 Gerald Lorge (inc.) Republican 35,208 65.99% Richard K. Wege Dem. 18,144 34.01% 53,352 17,064
1968 General[18] November 5 Gerald Lorge (inc.) Republican 42,313 100.0% 42,313 42,313
1972 Primary[19] September 12 Gerald Lorge (inc.) Republican 13,890 74.32% Gerald L. McFarren Rep. 4,800 25.68% 18,690 9,090
General[19] November 7 Gerald Lorge (inc.) Republican 35,919 72.88% Michael P. Mack Dem. 13,367 27.12% 49,286 22,552
1976 General[20] November 2 Gerald Lorge (inc.) Republican 36,937 67.47% Robert E. Luedtke Dem. 17,811 32.53% 54,748 19,126
1980 General[21] November 4 Gerald Lorge (inc.) Republican 34,289 55.43% C. Michael Allen Dem. 27,570 44.57% 61,859 6,719

Outagamie County Circuit Judge (1985)[edit]

Wisconsin Circuit Court, Ozaukee Circuit, Branch 5 Election, 1985[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Primary, February 19, 1985 (top-two)
Nonpartisan Michael W. Gage 3,004 37.28%
Nonpartisan Kathleen Galles Lhost 2,305 28.61%
Nonpartisan Gerald Lorge 1,848 22.94%
Nonpartisan David G. Geenen 900 11.17%
Total votes 8,057 100.0%

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Relating to: the life and public service of Gerald D. Lorge (Senate Joint Resolution 28). Wisconsin Legislature. 2001. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  2. ^ "Gerald D. Lorge Released From Hospital". The Post-Crescent. March 24, 1944. p. 3. Retrieved October 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1952). "Parties and Elections: The Primary Election" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1952 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 684. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1952). "Parties and Elections: The General Election" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1952 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 751. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1954). "Parties and Elections: The Primary Election" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1954 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 666. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1958). "Parties and Elections" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1958 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 666–667, 671, 776. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1975). "Elections" (PDF). The state of Wisconsin 1975 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 798, 818. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Zaferos, William D. (May 2, 1984). "Lorge to vacate Senate seat". The Post-Crescent. p. 1. Retrieved October 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Zaferos, William D. (September 12, 1984). "It's Leean vs. Huber for Lorge's Senate seat". The Post-Crescent. p. 13. Retrieved October 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1985). "Elections" (PDF). The state of Wisconsin 1985-1986 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 878. Retrieved October 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "About Us". Lorge & Lorge Law Firm. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  12. ^ "Gerald Lorge dies at 78". The Capital Times. February 16, 2001. p. 13. Retrieved October 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1954). "Parties and Elections: The General Election" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1954 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 763. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  14. ^ Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1956). "Parties and Elections: The Primary Election" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1956 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 707. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  15. ^ Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1956). "Parties and Elections: The General Election" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1956 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 750. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  16. ^ a b Toepel, M. G.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1962). "Wisconsin Elections" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1962 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 792, 866. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  17. ^ a b Theobald, H. Rupert, ed. (1966). "Elections" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1966 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 737, 753. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  18. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1970). "Elections" (PDF). The State of Wisconsin Blue Book, 1970 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 800, 816. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  19. ^ a b Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1973). "Elections" (PDF). The state of Wisconsin 1973 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 802, 822. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  20. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1977). "Elections" (PDF). The State of Wisconsin 1977 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 888, 910. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  21. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1981). "Elections" (PDF). The State of Wisconsin 1981-1982 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 890, 912. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Attorney General of Wisconsin
1974 		Succeeded by
William Mattka
Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Outagamie 2nd district
January 1, 1951 – January 3, 1955 		Succeeded by
Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 14th district
January 3, 1955 – January 7, 1985 		Succeeded by
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