Ralph F. Gates of Columbia City, Indiana

Ralph F. Gates of Columbia City, Indiana was photographed by Bretzman in 1931. The customer card listed him as Indiana Commander of the American Legion. Census records for 1930 show he was a lawyer at the time and 37 years old. He was married; he and his wife Helene had two children, Robert 9 and Patricia 3. Further research identified him as a former governor of Indiana. Gates was born in Columbia City and after receiving undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Michigan he returned there and entered his father's law practice. He served in World War I and became politically active after the war, serving as Indiana commander of the American Legion and Republican state chairman. He was elected governor in 1944, his first public office and the first Republican governor of Indiana since 1928. His administration dealt with problems of revenue, flood control, veterans' affairs, and traffic safety. He resumed his law practice in Columbia City after his term ended and continued to be a force in state politics acting as GOP national committeeman from 1947 to 1961. Much of his retirement was spent at his home on Crooked Lake, where the Ralph Gates Nature Preserve was dedicated in the spring of 1978.This image is a preservation copy made from an unstable original nitrate negative. The image is part of Series III