US Congressman. The son of Congressman John E. Nelson, he graduated from Colby College in 1928 and Harvard Law School in 1931. He served as his father's Congressional administrative assistant from 1931 to 1932, and then began a law practice in Augusta. He was Augusta's City Solicitor from 1934 to 1942, and a Delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1936. Nelson joined the Army Air Corps as a Second Lieutenant in 1942 and served until the end of World War II, including two years in the European Theater of Operations. He was discharged as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1946 and continued to serve as a member of the National Guard and Reserves. He was a member of the State Board of Bar Examiners from 1946 to 1948, and Mayor of Augusta from 1947 to 1948. In 1948 he was elected to the US House of Representatives and served four terms, 1949 to 1957. Nelson did not run for reelection in 1956, and was a visiting professor at the University of Florida from 1957 to 1959. In 1959 he became chief trial attorney for the Maine Highway Commission, and in 1960 he was elected Town Meeting Moderator for the town of West Bath.
US Congressman. The son of Congressman John E. Nelson, he graduated from Colby College in 1928 and Harvard Law School in 1931. He served as his father's Congressional administrative assistant from 1931 to 1932, and then began a law practice in Augusta. He was Augusta's City Solicitor from 1934 to 1942, and a Delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1936. Nelson joined the Army Air Corps as a Second Lieutenant in 1942 and served until the end of World War II, including two years in the European Theater of Operations. He was discharged as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1946 and continued to serve as a member of the National Guard and Reserves. He was a member of the State Board of Bar Examiners from 1946 to 1948, and Mayor of Augusta from 1947 to 1948. In 1948 he was elected to the US House of Representatives and served four terms, 1949 to 1957. Nelson did not run for reelection in 1956, and was a visiting professor at the University of Florida from 1957 to 1959. In 1959 he became chief trial attorney for the Maine Highway Commission, and in 1960 he was elected Town Meeting Moderator for the town of West Bath.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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