The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 7

The Lincoln Star Friday, 42878 Page 7 Terry Carpenter was living legend of Nebraska politics By Don Walton the time he was 42. Carpenter led the way in upgrading legislative ser 0 vices and prerogatives, spearheaded the move toward daily educational television coverage of the Unicamaeral and authored the rules change which opened legislative executive sessions to full coverage by the press. And it was Carpenter who set the standard for legislative activity when he introduced more than 200 bills of his own at the 1969 session. Although he acted as self-appointed floor leader during most of his legislative career, his highest leadership post was the chairmanship of the Legislative Council's executive board, ft which he was elected in 1973. In a way, Carpenter was pugnacious from birth.

When he was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at the turn of the century on March 28, 1900, his father promtly named him for a prizefighter of the time, Terry McGovern. Along the way to his successful business career, Carpenter held a number of jobs, including a stint with city government in Long Beach, Calif. During World War II, he was an officer in the Army Air Corps. Carpenter built an independent cut-rate oil operation in Scottsbluff "on a lot of hot air and credit" into a million dollar enterprise. And it was in conjunction with that business that he was accorded, and then used, the name of "Terrible Terry." In 1942, he sold his operation for a million dollars and branched out into other business activities, including, at one time or another, creameries, coal, liquor, bottling and supermarkets.

He was married three times, but the last one to Hazeldeane Carruthers really took. They were wed on Feb. 1. 1930. She survives.

The Carpenters had three sons, Terry Gary and Michael. Terry Jr. died in childhood. A western Nebraska town (Terrytown) is named for him and, at the behest of both Gov. J.

James Exon and the Legislature, the headquarters of the Nebraska. Educational Television Network, which he fathered, will bear his name forever. His list of legislative achievements includes successful efforts to reform the state's tax system, create the University of Nebraska at Omaha, institute the educational television network, give public employees collective bargaining rights and construct a new University of Nebraska sports center. But Carpenter had a hand in far more than that, influencing most of the major legislative decisions of the J960s and early 1970s. It was Carpenter who insisted that the state's' income tax law, enacted in 1967, be directly tied to the federal income tax system, thus assuring Nebraska taxpayers of a progressive rate structure.

And it was Carpenter who played watchdog for decades over tax valuation and equalization policies, even as recently as last year. Carpenter helped shape state policy in all fields, including highway construction, governmental reorganization, state aid programs, budget allocations and spending levels. His legislative years were also directed at efforts, in hi? words, to "supervise the establishment" by demanding a greater tax effort from banks, insurance companies, building and loan associations and his longtime enemy, Ak-Sar-Ben. Carpenter adamantly opposed without success what he considered to be the privileged tax-exempt status held by the Omaha civic organization and often turned out bedecked in a red sport coat for the days in which "he was to do legislative battle with it. always remembered where I came from," he said.

Stv Staff Writ Terry McGovern Carpenter was the living legend of Nebraska His political career stretched back nearly half a century and brought him into contact and conflict -with some of the old giants like Franklin D. Roosevelt and George W. Norris. 'On a more contemporary scale, he did business and, battle with every governor for the last three decades. "Carpenter probably was the best known politican of his time in Nebraska.

Unpredictable, proudly inconsistent, his spectacular marathon one-man show thrived on controversy and turmoil. Although he was unable to grasp statewide office in what must be a record 11 attempts, Scotts Bluff County voters sent him to the Legislature seven times where, in 18 years, he carved out a record of frenetic activity and accomplishment whose impact on the state will be Outside of Nebraska, he was most widely known as the, delegate from Nebraska who briefly plunged (he 1956 Republican National Convention into chaos when he attempted to nominate a mythical Joe Smith for vice president of the United States. performance, perhpas more than any otier, showcased his ability to act as a one-man disturbance, a quality which Carpenter cherished. "Carpenter was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat from 1933 to 1935, and served in the non-partisan-Legislature from 1953-55, from 1957-61 and from 1963 until his resignation in 19741 following his loss in the Democratic primary race for lieutenant governor.

The product of a broken home, he was on the streets selling newspapers when he was six, dropped out of school after the eighth grade and was a millionaire by State Sen. Carpenter speaking on floor in 1971. If JrN 1 I I OPEN DAILY 10-10 SUNDAY 10-7 lrgr su I- 477 ASSORTED 15" to 18" JUNIPERS g7f((i I garden fertilizer. F5y- A Ill 10-10-10 1 Greens grass in just 10 covers 4.000 77 OUR REG. 9.97 3 days Choose from a large selection of potted or evergreens it Delegate Carpenter rests after nominating Joe Smith 20-LB.

LAWN GARDEN FERTILIZER OUR REG. 2.57' Terry on ballot 19 times when most of Nebraska's current political 97 111 Covers Sq. Ft. 1 GALLON POTTED SHRUBS OUR REG. 2.47 3 days 2 FOR Fast acting lawn fertilizer greens grass fast Excellent for shrubs, trees, and gardens.

y5 While 200 Last 20-LB. BAG GARDEN FERTILIZER OUR REG. 2.97 YA FERTILIZER 97 1 PACKAGED By Don Walton Star Staff Writer Terry Carpenter's name was on Nebraska's ballot as a candidate for state or national office in 19 of the last 23 election years. While Caprenter won seven legislative contests and one U.S. House of Representatives race, all in western Nebraska, he lost all 11 bids for statewide office.

In the process, his opponents included most of the big names of recent Nebraska politics, including George W. Norris, Roy Cochran, Dwight Griswold, Kenneth Wherry, Carl Curtis and Robert Crosby. Carpenter sought election to the U.S. Senate five times, the most recently in 1972 when he won 47 percent of the vote (and both Omaha and Lincoln) in a narrow loss to Curtis. Amazingly, Carpenter ran nearly 100,000 votes head of his party's presidential nominee George IcGovern) and almost pulled off an upset triumph.

Three times 1936, 1948 and 1972), he was the Democratic senatorial nominee. Narpenter failed to win Senate primaries as a Democrat in 1942 and as a Republican in 1954. Carpenter sought the governorship four times, the most recently in 1960 whente ran third in the Republican primary contest. In 1940, he was the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, but he failed to win Democratic gubernatorial primary races in 1934 and 1950. Carpenter was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 1938, but lost his 1974 bid for the Democratic nomination for the state's second highest office.

That was his last statewide race. Carpenter won his House seat in 1932 as a Democrat, representing the old 5th District. He- defeated Robert Simmons later to become Nebraska's chief justice. That first election victory came at a time figures were children. Jim Exon was 11 years old.

Jeery Whelan was 7, and Charles Thone was 8. Carpenter's non-partisan legislative victories were chalked up in 1952, 1956, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1966 and 1970. Alter his unsuccessful 1974 bid for the nomination for lieutenant governor, he mounted a late-hour write-in campaign for his old seat in the Legislature. Although the final tally of votes in Scotts Bluff County gave Carpenter a three-vote edge, a recount by state officials threw out dozens of his votes on technical grounds and declared William Nichol the winner by 68 tallies. Carpenter's efforts to overturn those resnlts in the Legislature and in state and federal court tests were rejected.

In 1976, Carpenter was selected as an alternate delegate to the Democratic National Convention in New York City, committed to support Jimmy Carter for the presidential nomination. Twenty years earlier, he had been a delegate to the Republican National Convention in San and startled the GOP event by attempting to nominate a mythical Joe Smith lor vice president. Carpenter also served for a time as mayor of Scottsbluff and, in fact, made his Nebraska political debut in 1930 by running for the mayor's office "strictly for advertising purposes." His revolving door political career featured five party switches. Carpenter was a Republican until 1931 when he became a Democrat. In 1950, he returned to the GOP, moving back to the Democrats in 1965.

It was back to the Republicans in 1967 and finally back to the Democrats in 1971. TREES AND SHRUBS Special formula for your garden. Excellent for vegetables and flowers Lj HfcfcS ftT VALUES TO 6.57 S00 OFF REG. PRICE SHRUBS -3 50 20 LB. BAG CRABGRASS PREVENTER OUR REG.

5.97 VALUESTO 3.17 OFF Reg. Price 97 97 2 4 FT POTTED WHITE PINE 19 8 FT. PIN OAK 1897 Prevents ugly crab-grass from ever coming up. 20 lbs. treats 2.000 feet 6 to 8 FT.

SHADE TREES 1 fl47 SELECT ROSES Our Reg. 2.67 033 mm i manureJ 1 jmu 1 I SHEEP MANURE Carpenter died of cancer Terry Carpenter's death early 'Thursday morning came from abdominal cancer. He had been hospitalized in Scottsbluff in December and was told then that he had cancer. He was released about a month ago and then readmitted about three weeks ago. He had been listed in serious or critical condition for a week.

Benson Joelliffe Funeral Hdfne at Scottsbluff is in charge of arrangements. Grade 1 Hybrid Teas in a large assortment to choose FLOWERING BUSHES OUR REG. 2.37 77 While 150 Last Honeysuckle, barberry, mock orange, althea. 50 LB natural organic Non-burning. Weed free.

197 THE MAN FOR THE JOB! 1 Paid for by Greiner tor Sheriff Committee. Miles Johnston Jr. and Eleanor Goson, Co-Chairpersons, Dave Banwell, Treasurer..