Robert P. Knowles | |
Office: | President pro tempore of the |
Term Start: | January 1967 |
Term End: | January 1975 |
Predecessor: | Frank E. Panzer |
Successor: | Fred Risser |
State1: | Wisconsin |
State Senate1: | Wisconsin |
District1: | 10th |
Term Start1: | April 19, 1955 |
Term End1: | January 3, 1977 |
Predecessor1: | Warren P. Knowles |
Successor1: | Michele Radosevich |
Party: | Republican |
Birth Date: | 25 February 1916 |
Birth Place: | River Falls, Wisconsin, U.S. |
Death Place: | St. Croix County, Wisconsin, U.S. |
Restingplace: | Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery, |
Relatives: | Warren P. Knowles (brother) |
Allegiance: | United States |
Branch: | United States Army Army Air Corps |
Rank: | 1st Lieutenant |
Serviceyears: | 1942 - 1945 |
Battles: | World War II |
Robert Pierce Knowles I (February 25, 1916November 3, 1985) was an American businessman and Republican politician. He served 22 years in the Wisconsin State Senate (1955 - 1977), representing several counties in western Wisconsin. He was the younger brother of Wisconsin Governor Warren P. Knowles (1965 - 1971).
Born in River Falls, Wisconsin, Knowles served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He then graduated from the University of Wisconsin - River Falls. He was in the insurance and real estate business. Knowles served in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1955 until 1975; his older brother was Warren P. Knowles, the 37th Governor of Wisconsin.[1] [2] Knowles was defeated for re election in 1976 by Democrat Michele Radosevich 52%-48%.