Phil Saunders
Phil Saunders was an American politician and soldier who fought in World War II, an American attorney and 19th Attorney General of South Dakota from 1955 to 1959. Born in Milbank, South Dakota, he was married to the niece of U.S. Senator Francis Case.
Career
Saunders was a Republican. He graduated from the Northwestern University School of Law.
On July 27, 1954, Saunders was nominated for attorney general at the state convention by acclamation; Governor Sigurd Anderson said he thought that was the first time the nomination for the office for a first term had been awarded without a contest. Saunders defeated his general election opponent, Democrat Fred Nichols.
On July 16, 1956, Saunders was nominated by acclamation at the state convention in his re-election bid. In the general election, Saunders defeated Democrat William H. Heuermann by 156,149 votes to 127,988.
In 1958, Saunders ran for Governor of South Dakota. He defeated L. Roy Houck for the Republican nomination, but lost to Democrat Ralph Herseth in the general election.