Don Elrod

Arthur Donald "Don" Elrod (May 8, 1925 – January 27, 2009) was a Democratic politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 35th district from 1966 to 1973.

Elrod was born in Loup City, Nebraska, in 1925.^[1] He attended Loup City high School, and subsequently took a correspondence course and completed an apprentice-printer training program.^[1] In World War II, Elrod served in the U.S. Navy in the Seabees from 1943 to 1946.^[1][2] Elrod worked for the Grand Island Independent as a printer, and served as the president of the Grand Island Typographical Union 731 and as the chairman of the Hall County Democratic Party.^[1][2]

In 1964, Elrod ran for the state legislature from the 35th district, which was based in Hall County and included Grand Island.^[2] In the nonpartisan primary, he faced attorney George Burr, businessman Ira Paine, former County Sheriff Stan Stobbe, and former State Senator Walter J. Williams.^[3] Elrod placed second in the primary, winning 28 percent of the vote to Paine's 38 percent,^[4] and advanced to the general election.^[5] Elrod narrowly lost, receiving 48 percent of the vote to Paine's 52 percent.^[4]

In 1966, Elrod announced that he would run for the Hall County Board of Supervisors,^[6] but on March 8, 1966, Paine died in office.^[7] Elrod subsequently dropped his campaign for the county board, and announced that he would run for the legislature instead.^[8] Governor Frank B. Morrison subsequently appointed Elrod to serve until a special election could be held later that year,^[9] and he was sworn in on April 20, 1966.^[10]

Elrod faced Republican Arch Jarrell, the former managing editor of the Grand Island Independent, in the special election.^[9] Jarrell placed first in the primary, receiving 54 percent of the vote to Elrod's 46 percent.^[11] The general election was considered to be a "tightly contested race," and Elrod narrowly defeated Jarrell, winning 52–48 percent.^[11][12]

In 1968, Elrod ran for a full term in the legislature,^[13] and was challenged by Grand Island independent reporter Robert Krall.^[14] Elrod placed first in the primary, winning 59 percent to Krall's 41 percent, and won re-election in the general election by a wide margin, receiving 60 percent of the vote.^[15]

Kelly sought a second full term in 1972,^[16] and was challenged by businessman Ralph Kelly and former County Supervisor George Clayton.^[17] In the primary election, Elrod narrowly placed first, receiving 38 percent of the vote to Kelly's 37 percent and Elrod's 25 percent.^[18] He advanced to the general election with Kelly, and lost, receiving 45 percent of the vote to Kelly's 55 percent.^[18][19]

Elrod died on January 27, 2009.^[20]