WARREN P. KNOWLES was born in River Falls, Wisconsin. He received a bachelor’s degree from Carleton College in 1930 and a law degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1933. He won a seat in the State Senate in 1940, which he continued to hold while serving as a Lieutenant in the Navy during World War II. After leaving the Senate in 1953, he went on to serve three terms as Lieutenant Governor before being elected governor in 1964. His administration focused on vocational and higher education, reorganizing the state government, traffic safety, and environmental issues. During his years as governor, he was a member of the NGA’s Executive Committee and chairman of the Midwestern Governors’ Conference.