Culbert Olson

Culbert Levy Olson (November 7, 1876 – April 13, 1962) was an American politician and governor of California.

He was born in Fillmore, Utah to Daniel Olson and his wife Delilah King. Delilah was a suffragette and became the first female elected official in Utah. Both parents belonged to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However Culbert was not convinced of the existence of God and became an atheist at an early age.

He served as Governor of California from January 2, 1939 until January 4, 1943, and was the only Democrat elected to that office between 1898 and 1958. He pardoned famous political prisoner Tom Mooney in 1938. In his 1942 bid for re-election, he was defeated by state Attorney General Earl Warren.

He later became president of the United Secularists of America.

He died in Los Angeles at age 85 and was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in suburban Glendale.

Quote

If you want to know what Hell is like, just be Governor. – Olson speaking to his successor, Earl Warren