Frank Leroy Farrar (1929-2021) American Politician

Frank Leroy Farrar American Politician (1929-2021)

Short Bio

A member of the Republican Party, he served as the Governor of South Dakota from 1969 until 1971. He served with the United States Army during the Korean War and following his return home, he attained his law degree from the University of South Dakota.

His service in the government began when he worked as an agent with the Internal Revenue Service before becoming a judge in Marshall County, South Dakota. Farrar became the youngest person elected to the position of State Attorney General (1963 to 1969) in 1962.

He succeeded Niles Boe as Governor of South Dakota and during his tenure, he raised state sales taxes to generate revenue. He failed to win a second term in 1970 and was succeeded by Richard F. Kneip. After his governorship, he worked in the banking industry.

Full Bio

Frank Leroy Farrar life and education

Farrar earned a B.S. from the University of South Dakota an LL.B. degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law. He did not take the bar exam as he was admitted to the South Dakota bar under the state’s diploma privilege. He was in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1949 through 1953, and on active duty during the Korean War from 1953 to 1955.He married the former Patricia Henley on June 5, 1953, in Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was stationed in the U.S. Army.



Frank Leroy Farrar Career

After the Korean War ended, Farrar was an Internal Revenue Service Agent until 1957. He was a judge in 1958. Farrar served as State’s Attorney for Marshall County from 1959 to 1962. He also served as President of the States Attorneys Association. He was Attorney General for South Dakota from 1963 to 1969.

On May 22, 1962, Farrar announced that he was running for Attorney General. Sterling Clark, of Belle Fourche, also ran for the Republican nomination for Attorney General. Farrar won the nomination with 96,608 1/2 votes to 57,339 1/2 votes for Clark. Farrar went on to defeat Democrat Thomas E. Poe of Vermillion, South Dakota, in the general election. Poe had replaced Democrat William Day of Winner, South Dakota, who resigned his candidacy for business reasons.

On July 1, 1964, Farrar sought re-nomination as Attorney General. He was re-elected in the general election with 157,848 votes defeating Democrat William C. Grady who received 125,047. In the general election Farrar ran against Democrat Robert M. Swanson. Farrar won a third term with 141,734 votes to 79,670 for Swanson.

With Farrar’s election to a third term as Attorney there was much speculation that he would be the heir apparent for Republican Gubernatorial nomination in 1968.Elected Governor, he served in that capacity from January 7, 1969 to January 5, 1971.

Frank Leroy Farrar Death (1929-2021)

His wife, former First Lady of South Dakota Patricia Farrar, who was also a Senior Olympian, died on October 31, 2015, at the age of 84. Farrar died on October 31, 2021, at age 92.