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Julius L. Meier

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Julius L. Meier
20^th Governor of Oregon
Term of office: January 12, 1931 – January 9, 1935
Predecessor:	A. W. Norblad
Successor:	Charles H. Martin
Born:	October 1, 1874 Portland, Oregon
Died:	July 14, 1938 Corbett, Oregon
Political party:	Independent
Profession:	Merchant
Spouse:	Grace Mayer

Julius L. Meier (December 31, 1874 - July 14, 1937) was a prominent businessman in Portland, Oregon, and governor of Oregon. He was born in Portland to German immigrants of Jewish ancestry: Aaron, a merchant and founder of Oregon's largest department store, Meier & Frank, and Jeannette (Hirsch) Meier. He had three siblings, and was the father of Jean Ellen, Elsa Francis, and Julius L. (Jack), Jr.

He married Grace Mayer on Christmas Day, 1901, saying afterwards that it was the only day that he was allowed off from the store.

Meier graduated from the University of Oregon Law School in 1895 and practiced law with a partner, George W. Joseph. It was at this time he acquired the "L" in his name. When he opened his law office, the sign painter asked him what name should be put on the door. On hearing that Meier had no middle name, the painter insisted that all lawyers of substance had one, so Meier suggested an "L", and it became part of his name.

After practicing law for four years, Meier joined into the family's business. He served as the firm's general manager from 1910 to 1930 and then became its president. During World War I, Meier headed Liberty Loan drives, served as regional director of the Council of National Defense, and subsequently aided in the rehabilitation of France after the war. He also headed the Oregon Commission of the Pan-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco.

One of his most public endeavors was founding and leading the citizen committee pushing to build the Columbia River Highway, first west from Portland to Astoria beginning in 1913-1915, and then east from Portland to the Dalles. His efforts as chair of the Columbia Highway Association supported the design and engineering work of Sam Lancaster and John Yeon, creating the public enthusiasm for the highway's funding. Built in 1913-1922 under the entrepreneurial leadership of Sam Hill, the highway was a technical and civic achievement of its time, successfully marrying ambitious engineering with sensitive treatment of the surrounding magnificent landscape. It was the first scenic highway in the United States, which Meier and others called "The King of Roads."

Although a contributor to political campaigns, Meier eschewed political office until 1930 upon the death of his close friend and former associate George W. Joseph, who had won the Republican nomination for governor on a platform committed to public rather than private development of hydroelectric power on the Columbia River. When the Republican State Central Committee failed to nominate any of the primary candidates and instead selected Phil Metschan, an opponent of public power, Meier agreed to run as an independent candidate. Both major parties were badly split over the power issue, resulting in Meier's easy victory. He won 54.5 percent of the total vote, besting his nearest competitor, the Democratic candidate, Edward F. Bailey, 135,608 votes to 62,434.

Ironically, Meier could not fulfill the campaign promise upon which he was elected, as the national government undertook the development of the Columbia River. Still his administration was deemed successful as he reduced budgets and placed the state on a firm financial basis. This was due in large part to voter approval of an initiative establishing a state income tax in 1930. Meier promoted the Knox Law, which regulated the liquor traffic; helped create a State Board of Agriculture and State Unemployment Commission; pressed for the adoption of a non-partisan judicial system; and established the Oregon State Police with the assistance of famed Marine Corps Major General Smedley Butler. He worked effectively with Oregon's congressional delegation to secure aid for the state's economic problems and the development of its resources.

In 1932 he resisted pressure to run for the United States Senate and in 1934 both Republicans and Democrats sought his candidacy in their respective gubernatorial primaries. He declined all offers, in part because of poor health, and retired from office in January 1935. Meier went into semi-retirement until his death at his estate, "Menucha," overlooking the Columbia River. He is buried at Beth Israel Cemetery in Portland.

Julius Meier's official portrait escaped the fire which damaged the state capitol in 1935, as his successor Charles H. Martin had not allowed it to be displayed, and transferred it instead to Meier & Frank, from whose vaults it was recovered by the Oregon Secretary of State 50 years later.

His family sold Menucha to First Presbyterian Church of Portland[1] in 1950, which now operates it as a conference and retreat center. The Meier & Frank families sold the department store to the May Company in 1966. With May's sale to Federated in 2005, the storewas renamed "Macy's" in September, 2006.

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