Dale E. Wolf

Dale Edward Wolf (born September 6, 1924) is an American businessman and politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. He is veteran of World War II, and a member of the Republican Party, who served for three weeks as the 70th Governor of Delaware.

Early life and family
Wolf was born at Kearney, Nebraska, the son of Harry and Irene Wolf. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska with a degree in agriculture. During World War II, he served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army, earning a Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart at the Battle of Okinawa. He married Clarice Elaine Marshall in 1945 and they have four children, Janet, Glenda, Thomas, and James.

Professional and political career
After the war, Wolf received his Ph.D. in agriculture from Rutgers University and soon took a position with the agriculture research division of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. He became the Chairman of the Board of DuPont's Pharmaceutical Business and Group Vice President of the Agriculture business. Meanwhile he was at various times Chairman of the National Agriculture Chemical Association (NACA), Chairman of the International Agriculture Chemical Association (GIFAP), and a member of the Board of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Association (PMA).

He retired from DuPont in 1987 to accept an appointment from Governor Michael N. Castle as State Director of Development, responsible for the capital budget, housing for the poor, tourism and economic development.

Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
Wolf was incumbent Governor Michael N. Castle’s choice for Lieutenant Governor in 1988 and won election, defeating Democrat Gary E. Hindes, a Wall Street investment executive from New Castle County. He served one term from January 20, 1989 until December 31, 1992. Wolf chose not to run for Governor in 1992 against the formidable candidacy of Thomas R. Carper. However, when Governor Michael N. Castle resigned to take his new position in the United States House of Representatives, Wolf served as Governor the remaining 20 days of Castle’s second term. He is, to date, the last Republican governor of Delaware.

Later career
Wolf later served as Chairman of Daynel International, a consultant group that assists companies interested in doing business in China. He lived in Guangzhou, China in 1995, setting up an office for the law firm of Mezzullo-McCandlish, of which he is the Senior International Consultant. He was vice chairman of the board of directors of the Emerald BioAgriculture Corporation, an agriculture biotechnology company in Lansing, Michigan, and since 1998, Vice Chairman of the WSFS Financial Corporation. He chaired the first Drug and Alcohol Abuse Coordinating Council for Delaware, and is the chairman of SURJ (Stand Up for what's Right and Just), an organization dedicated to improve the criminal justice system in Delaware.

Almanac
Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor take office the third Tuesday of January and each has a four-year term.

Images

 * Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery; Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover.

Works

 * ''Principles of Weed Control. (New York: Wiley & Sons, 1951) Ahlgren, Gilbert H., Glenn C. Klingman & Dale E. Wolf. This gives an interesting insight into the present problems the world is experiencing with pesticides.

Places with more information

 * Delaware Historical Society; website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161
 * University of Delaware; Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965