George T. Mickelson was born to George and Emma on a farm south of Selby in 1903, was educated there and at the University of SD, and graduated with a law degree in 1927. He married Madge Turner in 1928, operated his own law firm, entered state politics in 1937, served as a State Representative until 1942, and was Attorney General from 1942 to 1946. In 1946 he was elected Governor for the 1947 to 1950 term, then returned to his law practice in Selby upon retirement. In 1953 he was appointed to a federal judgeship for SD and held that post until his death in 1965. George S. Mickelson was born in 1941 while his father was serving as Speaker of the House, and the Legislature changed his middle name from Theodore to Speaker in honor of his father's position. He spent his early life there and in Pierre, finished high school in Sioux Falls, married Linda McCahren in 1963, graduated from the University of SD School of Law in 1965, served in Vietnam until 1967, joined a law firm in Brookings, and practiced there until entering state politics in 1975. He also served as Speaker of the House until his election as Governor in 1986 and re-election in 1990.