Albert Dean Rosellini (born January 21, 1910) was governor of the state of Washington for two terms from 1957 to 1965 and was the first Italian American, Roman Catholic governor elected west of the Mississippi River. During a political career that spanned 40 years, Rosellini was an activist leader who worked to reform the state's prisons and mental health facilities, expand the state highway system, create the University of Washington Medical Sch...
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Albert Dean Rosellini (born January 21, 1910) was governor of the state of Washington for two terms from 1957 to 1965 and was the first Italian American, Roman Catholic governor elected west of the Mississippi River. During a political career that spanned 40 years, Rosellini was an activist leader who worked to reform the state's prisons and mental health facilities, expand the state highway system, create the University of Washington Medical School and Dental School, and build the floating bridge across Lake Washington that now bears his name. At 99, Rosellini is currently the oldest living former Governor in the United States.
Rosellini was born in Tacoma, Washington, the only son of Italian immigrants. He worked his way through college and law school at the University of Washington. At the age of 29, he was elected to the Washington State Senate as its youngest member, representing the 33rd district in south Seattle, the home of many Italian immigrants. A New Deal Democrat,...
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