Tom Vilsack

Thomas James Vilsack (born December 13 1950, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) was elected 40th Governor of the state of Iowa in 1998. He was reelected to a second four-year term in 2002. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life and family

Vilsack was orphaned at birth and he was placed in a Catholic orphanage several days after birth. His name was "Kenneth" before he was adopted in 1951 as an infant by Bud and Dolly Vilsack. His adoptive father was a real-estate agent and insurance salesman, and his adoptive mother was a homemaker. He had one sister, Alice, who was six years older than he and who died in her mid-40s.

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He went to high school at Shady Side Academy, a private school in Pittsburgh. He received his bachelor's degree in 1972 from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York where he was also a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. During the early 1970s he met his wife Christine Bell. He then went to Albany Law School, and received his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree in 1975. He then passed the bar exam. A few years later he and his wife decided to move to her hometown of Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Vilsack then joined his father-in-law in his law practice.

Related Topics:
Shady Side Academy - Private school - 1972 - Hamilton College - Clinton, New York - Delta Upsilon - Fraternity - 1970s - Albany Law School - 1975 - Bar exam - Mount Pleasant, Iowa

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Tom and Christie Vilsack have two sons – Jess and Doug. Both have graduated from college. Jess graduated from the University of Iowa Law School in May 2003. Doug graduated at about the same time from Colorado College.

Related Topics:
Christie Vilsack - University of Iowa - May 2003 - Colorado College

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