Mon Wallgren was born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1891. In 1894 his family moved to Texas, then to Washington in 1901. Wallgren attended public school and business school in Everett and graduated from the Washington State School of Optometry in 1914. In 1917 he enlisted in the Coast Artillery in which he attained the rank of second lieutenant. Following his war service he returned to Everett where he began a jewelry and optical business. In 1932 Wallgren was elected to Congress where one of his actions was to introduce the bill that resulted in the establishment of Olympic National Park. In 1940 he was elected to the U.S. Senate. In 1944 he successfully ran for governor against Arthur Langlie. Following his election he resigned his seat in the U.S. Senate, and as governor he appointed Hugh S. Mitchell to finish the rest of his Senate term. With Wallgren's election the Republicans gained control of both the executive and legislative branches of state government.
In his inaugural address, Governor Wallgren expressed his hopes for the future prosperity of the state, saying: "It is time for the West to come of age and take its proper place in the world. We have the resources and the people for a great and splendid future.... It is up to those in charge of government and business to do their job now and in the future." Governor Wallgren guided Washington through the end of World War II, during which his primary task was to ensure the success of Washington's war effort. At the same time he had to plan for the inevitable economic decline which would follow the end of the war. The governor's recommendations to the legislature included more research by government, labor, and industry to find new sources of income and employment; increased social welfare legislation; more attention by the state government to agriculture, and the establishment of a vigorous state recreation and tourism program. Among the most important acts passed by the 1945 legislature was the new Unemployment Compensation Act. Following the war Washington experienced a difficult period of transition from war industry to a peacetime economy. The aircraft and shipbuilding industries maintained a high level of production, but statewide unemployment was high. Bright spots in the economic picture were the aluminum industry and the rapid expansion of food processing. He died in 1962.
From the description of Governor Monrad C. Wallgren papers, 1945-1949. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70976888
