Culbert Levy Olson (November 7, 1876 - April 13, 1962) was a U.S. politician.

He was born in Fillmore, Utah to Daniel Olson and his wife Delilah King. He had an elder brother named Emmet Olson. Their mother Delilah was a suffragette and became the first female elected official in Utah. Both parents belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However Culbert was not convinced of the existence of God and became an atheist at an early age.

He served as the Governor of California from January 2, 1939 until January 4, 1943, and was the only Democrat elected to that office between 1898 and 1954. In his 1942 bid for re-election he was defeated by state Attorney General Earl Warren.

He died in Los Angeles at age 85, and was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in suburban Glendale.

Quote

If you want to know what Hell is like, just be Governor. – Olson speaking to his successor, Earl Warren

External link

• Biography from the State of California (http://www.governor.ca.gov/govsite/govsgallery/h/biography/governor_29.html)
• A detailed profile alongside other American Atheists (http://www.atheists.org/Atheism/roots/olson/)
• Another profile of him (http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAolsonCB.htm)

Preceded by: Frank Merriam

Governors of California

Succeeded by: Earl Warren