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Mel Carnahan was born in Birch Tree, Missouri
in 1934. Growing up, he attended public schools and was active
in the Baptist church. He met his high school sweetheart, Jean
Carpenter, at a church youth meeting. Later, they graduated
from high school and college together. They were married in
1954. After graduating from college in 1956, Carnahan served
two years in the U.S. Air Force. In 1959, he graduated from
law school at the University of Missouri in Columbia.
In 1961, he was elected municipal court judge in Rolla, and
was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1967.
In the second of his two terms, he was elected majority floor
leader.
Carnahan re-entered government in 1980 when he was elected State
Treasurer. In 1988, he was elected Lt. Governor, the only Missouri
Democrat running for statewide office to win in that year. He
was elected Governor in 1992 and 1996, both times by landslide
margins. In his two terms as Missouri Governor, Carnahan enacted
education reforms, improvements in the health care system, and
passed tough anti-crime measures. His administration oversaw
unprecedented economic growth in Missouri.
Governor Carnahan was a true friend of the
Missouri Boys State program. He addressed the Missouri Boys
State citizens fourteen different times. Through his example,
he personified the ideal that public service can be a sincere
and meaningful pursuit, and taught the lesson that one person
truly can make a difference.
In October 2000, Governor Carnahan, his son Randy, and trusted
aide Chris Sifford were killed in a tragic plane crash. Randy,
a Missouri Boys State alum, was piloting the plane when it went
down just south of St. Louis.
In recognition of his service to the Missouri Boys State, and
for the example of public service that he provided, the Missouri
Boys State Board of Directors and Executive Committee voted
in 2001 to rename Shelby City to Carnahan City
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