George Hampel (politician)
George F. L. Hampel, Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 August 1885 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | 15 May 1954 (aged 68) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, accountant, bookseller |
| Years active | 1916–1946 |
| Known for | Member of Wisconsin State Assembly (1931–1932); Wisconsin State Senate (1937–1944) |
George F. L. Hampel, Sr., born August 27, 1885, and deceased May 15, 1954, was a Milwaukee-based American figure known for his roles as a politician, accountant, and bookseller. He held a single term in the Wisconsin State Assembly representing the Socialist Party from 1931 to 1932, and subsequently served two terms in the Wisconsin State Senate as a member of the Progressive Party between 1937 and 1944. Throughout his career, Hampel's political affiliations shifted among Social Democrat/Socialist and Progressive ideologies; following the dissolution of the Progressive Party, he aligned himself with the Republican Party.
Background
Hampel’s origins trace back to Milwaukee in 1885. He completed his secondary education at West Division High School and pursued further studies through International Correspondence Schools as well as Hesse's Art School. Professionally, he worked as an accountant and held the position of president at Hampel's Book Shop, Inc.
Political career
In 1916, Hampel launched his political journey with an unsuccessful campaign for Wisconsin State Treasurer as a Social Democrat. During that same year, he received an appointment to the Milwaukee Motion Picture Commission, where he remained active until 1940. Between 1919 and 1920, he served as Milwaukee County clerk and was an advocate for Socialist Victor Berger during congressional hearings.
After a hiatus from elected positions lasting about ten years, Hampel secured election to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1930 under the Socialist banner. Although he narrowly failed to capture the Sixth District seat in the State Senate in 1932, he achieved victory in that race in 1936 running as a Progressive and was reelected in 1940.
In 1941, Hampel departed from the Socialist Party after it mandated members to withdraw from the Progressive Party. During the early 1940s, he held leadership roles within the state Progressive Party as vice chairman and Milwaukee County chairman. Running as an independent without party endorsement in 1944, he was defeated for his senate seat.
Following the post-1944 decline of the Wisconsin Progressive Party, Hampel opposed merging with Democrats and advocated for reentry into the Republican Party. He played a key role in guiding former Progressives back into the Republican ranks during their consolidation in March 1946.
Personal life
In his later years, Hampel took on management of Cedar Creek Distillery located in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.
He was married to Louise Hampel and fathered three children: Ruth, Gordon, and George Jr., with the latter serving on Milwaukee’s Board of Trustees. Hampel passed away in Milwaukee in 1954 and was interred at Wanderer's Rest Cemetery.