Irving Wiltse

Irving Wiltse (March 15, 1900 – April 29, 1997) was a Republican politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 1st district from 1969 to 1977.

Wiltse was born in Preston, Nebraska, in 1900,^[1] and graduated from Falls City High School.^[2] He later attended Nebraska Wesleyan University, graduating in 1924.^[3] He served in the U.S. Army during World War I and in the U.S. Navy in World War II, and continuing serving in the U.S. Naval Reserve until 1962.^[3] Wiltse worked for the Boy Scouts of America in the Philippines and in Puerto Rico from 1926 to 1941.^[3][2] He worked in Falls City as a farm machinery dealer.^[3]

In 1968, Wiltse ran for the state legislature against State Senator Calista Cooper Hughes in the 1st district, which included Johnson, Nemaha, and Richardson counties.^[4] In the primary election, Hughes placed first with 42 percent of the vote, and Wiltse placed second with 32 percent and farmer Jack McGrath placed third with 26 percent.^[5] In the general election, Wiltse defeated Hughes by a wide margin, winning 59–41 percent.^[5]

Wiltse ran for re-election in 1972,^[6] and was challenged by McGrath.^[7] In the primary election, Wiltse narrowly placed first over McGrath, winning just 50.3 percent of the vote to McGrath's 49.7 percent.^[8] Wiltse ultimately defeated McGrath in the general election, winning his second term, 55–45 percent.^[8]

In 1976, Wiltse ran for a third term, and was challenged by Nelson Merz, a member of the Falls City School Board, and Guy Cooper, the brother of Senator Hughes, whom Wiltse defeated in 1968.^[9] In the primary election, Cooper placed first, winning 48 percent of the vote, Merz placed second with 30 percent, and Wiltse placed third with 22 percent,^[10] and was the only incumbent senator seeking re-election to lose at the primary election that year.^[11]

After leaving the legislature, Wiltse and his wife retired to Weslaco, Texas, where he died on April 29, 1997.^[3]