Where Seldom Was Heard a Discouraging Word - Bill Guy Remembers
by Bill Guy
This is the autobiography of Bill Guy, governor of North Dakota from 1961
to 1973 and one of the most beloved public figures in the history of the state.
The North Dakota Institute for Regional studies is delighted to offer this work,
not only because of its obvious appeal to readers in the state, but also because
it is a contribution to regional studies and identity. This book is North Dakota
double-distilled.
With his gift for storytelling, Governor Guy captures the events and personalities
of politics in North Dakota and the nation. Readers will chuckle at his recollections
of watching Senator Burdick stuff wild plums in his pockets along a western
Dakota roadside and be moved by his description of the funeral of President
Kennedy. There is excitement here, too, as when a Japanese Kamikaze plane sank
young Lieutenant Guy's destroyer off Okinawa, or when an engine fell off the
Air National Guard C54 used for gubernatorial travel, endangering both Governor
Guy and his wife, Jean.
Bill Guy has always been a dedicated servant of North Dakota. His book both
recounts that service and extends it, allowing us to benefit from his experiences.
About the Author
William L. Guy was born in 1919 in Devils Lake, North Dakota. In 1926 his
parents moved to Amenia, where he grew up.
Guy attended the North Dakota Agricultural College, graduating in 1941. While
there he met Jean Mason, whom he married in 1943. They have five children. After
college he served in the Navy, and then returned to civilian life to farm at
Amenia.
He was elected to the Legislature in 1958, and in 1960 became the first member
of the Democratic-NPL party to be elected governor of North Dakota. He was regularly
re-elected, serving two two-year terms and two four-year terms until retiring
in 1973. While governor, Guy became a major national figure, advising Presidents
Kennedy and Johnson and chairing the National Governor's Conference.
After 1976, when he lost a Senate race to incumbent Milton Young by a mere
186 votes, he retired from politics, but remains active in public life, especially
in matters of electric power, water usage, and economic development.
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