Lee Dreyfus has died
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Former Governor Lee Sherman Dreyfus has died. He was 81. His son, Lee Dreyfus Junior, says his father died at home in Waukesha last night while watching TV.
The former governor was elected in 1978, upsetting Congressman Bob Kasten in the Republican primary and then defeating acting Governor Martin Schreiber in the general election.
He served one four-year term.
Dreyfus was chancellor at UW-Stevens Point before resigning to run for governor. The state's 41st governor began wearing a trademark red vest when he was at Stevens Point because it was easy for students to recognize him.
Dreyfus was also a member of the UW-Madison faculty and later served on the UW System Board of Regents. He briefly served as interim state superintendent.
He graduated from Washington High School in Milwaukee and earned his undergraduate, master's and doctoral degrees at UW-Madison. He also served in the Navy during World War II.
Dreyfus moved to Waukesha in 1986 where his son, Lee Dreyfus Junior, lives. Lee Junior is a Waukesha County judge.
He's survived by his son and daughter-in-law Susan in Waukesha and his daughter Susan Fosdick and her husband James in Eagle River, as well as six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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