Alexander MacDonald "Sandy" Keith (November 22, 1928 – October 3, 2020) was an American politician and jurist who was the first person to hold office in each of the three branches of Minnesota state government, serving as state senator, the 37th Lieutenant Governor, and as an associate justice and later chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court.[1][2]
Sandy Keith | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court | |
| In office December 1, 1990 – January 29, 1998 | |
| Appointed by | Rudy Perpich |
| Preceded by | Peter S. Popovich |
| Succeeded by | Kathleen A. Blatz |
| Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court | |
| In office February 1, 1989 – December 1, 1990 | |
| Appointed by | Rudy Perpich |
| 37th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota | |
| In office January 8, 1963 – January 2, 1967 | |
| Governor | Elmer L. Andersen Karl Rolvaag |
| Preceded by | Karl Rolvaag |
| Succeeded by | James B. Goetz |
| Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 4th district | |
| In office January 6, 1959 – January 7, 1963 | |
| Preceded by | Walter Burdick |
| Succeeded by | Harold G. Krieger |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Alexander MacDonald Keith November 22, 1928 Rochester, Minnesota |
| Died | October 3, 2020 (aged 91) |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party |
| Spouse | Marion E. Sanford |
| Alma mater | Amherst College Yale Law School |
Early life
editKeith was born in Rochester, Minnesota, to Norman M. Keith and Edna (Alexander) Keith. His father was a physician who practiced medicine at the Mayo Clinic. He married Marion E. Sanford on April 29, 1955. Keith graduated magna cum laude from Amherst College in 1950, and from Yale Law School in 1953. He then served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War.[3]
Career
editAfter returning to his hometown of Rochester, Keith took a job as counsel with the Mayo Clinic, where he worked with future U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun.
In 1959, he was elected to the Minnesota State Senate as a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). During his tenure as a state senator, Keith served as a delegate to the 1960 Democratic National Convention. He was Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota under Governor Karl Rolvaag from 1963 until 1967. He challenged Rolvaag for the nomination to be the DFL's candidate for governor in the 1966 general election, but was defeated by Rolvaag in the primary election.
In 1989, Keith began serving as a justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. He became chief justice in 1990 and served in that capacity until 1998.[4][5]
Death
editKeith died at his home on October 3, 2020. He was 91 years old, just a month and a half shy of his 92nd birthday.[2]
References
edit- ^ Klecker, Mara (October 5, 2020). "Former Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Sandy Keith dies". Star Tribune. Minneapolis.
Alexander MacDonald "Sandy" Keith dedicated his life to public service and is believed to be the first person to work in roles across all three branches of Minnesota government.
- ^ a b "Sandy"-Keith "A.M. "Sandy" Keith (obituary)". Post-Bulletin. Rochester, Minnesota. October 5, 2020.
Sandy was a public man—the only person in Minnesota's history to have served in all three branches of state government.
- ^ Minnesota Legislators Past & Present-Alexander MacDonald "Sandy" Keith
- ^ Minnesota Legislators Past & Present[Alexander MacDonald "Sandy" Keith
- ^ Minnesota Legislative Reference Library-Minnesota Lieutenant Governors, 1858-present