Richland Center in Richland County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Vernon W. Thomson

Photographed by Fitzie Heimdahl, November 6, 2025

1. Vernon W. Thomson Marker

Inscription.
Richland Center native Vernon W. Thomson was born on November 5, 1905. He graduated from Richland Center High School in 1923 and earned his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin Madison (1927) and law degree from UW Law School (1932). His political career spanned five decades. Thomson was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1934 and served eight terms, three of them as Speaker. He was elected Mayor of Richland Center in 1944 and Wisconsin’s Attorney General in 1950. In 1957, he was elected Wisconsin’s 27th Governor. As Governor, Thomson enacted one of the strictest lobbying laws in the country, approved group life insurance for state employees, and revised the public retirement system. In 1960, he was elected to the US House of Representatives, serving the 3rd District for seven terms. He was one of the original Commissioners of the FEC, serving between 1976—1977. Thomson died on April 2, 1988, and is interred in the Richland Center Cemetery.

Erected 2025 by Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 632.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 2, 1988.

Location. 43° 20.579′ N,

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90° 23.348′ W. Marker is in Richland Center, Wisconsin, in Richland County. It is at the intersection of North Orange Street and West 6th Street, on the right on North Orange Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1050 N Orange St, Richland Center WI 53581, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Driftless Area — Bluff Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ada James (a few steps from this marker); Krouskop Park (a few steps from this marker); Wisconsin Purple Heart Memorial Highway (approx. 0.3 miles away); Boaz Mastodon (approx. 5.8 miles away); Rural Electrification (approx. 5.8 miles away); Richard M. Brewer (approx. 6.9 miles away); Ocooch Mountains (approx. 6.9 miles away); The Little Rock (approx. 7.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richland Center.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Birthplace of GTE (was a few steps from this marker but has been confirmed missing).

Photographed by Fitzie Heimdahl, November 6, 2025

2. Vernon W. Thomson Marker

Photographed by Fitzie Heimdahl, November 6, 2025

3. Vernon W. Thomson Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2025, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 118 times since then and 55 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 6, 2025, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.