Wendell Anderson, American politician, Died at 83

Wendell Richard “Wendy” Anderson was born on February 1, 1933, and died on July 17, 2016.
He was an American politician and the 33rd Governor of Minnesota, between January 4, 1971, and December 29, 1976.
In late 1976, he resigned the governor’s office in order to be named U.S. Senator to replace Walter Mondale, who had been elected Vice President of the United States.
Anderson served in the U.S. Senate from December 30, 1976, until he resigned on December 29, 1978, to give his successor seniority.
He had faced a backlash from voters when he arranged to have himself appointed to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Walter Mondale by resigning the governorship.
Wendell was not elected to the Senate.
Before his political career, Anderson played defense for the University of Minnesota from 1951 to 1954.
He was a member of the U.S. hockey team that won a silver medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics.
After some time his on-ice career ended, he was drafted by the Minnesota Fighting Saints in the inaugural World Hockey Association draft of 1972, in what was seen as a publicity stunt.
Mary Christine McKee of Bemidji was his wife, they got married in Minnesota, in 1963.
The couple had three children: Amy, Elizabeth, and Brett.
During 1975, Wendell R. Anderson was honored by two of the Swedish District lodges of the Vasa Order of America and was selected to be Swedish-American of the Year.
Wendell Anderson passed away at 83 years old.