Death of a Beloved Local Hero

BISMARCK, S.D.—Joe Voss, beloved World War II hero and former North Dakota governor, died on Wednesday.

Voss was born on a farm east of Wogansport, North Dakota on April 17, 1915. Growing up, he also said that his love of flying dated back to his childhood when he watched pilots fly over his family’s home and wave to him from the cockpit. “I thought, ‘Someday I’m gonna trade these horses for an airplane.’”

True to his word, Voss served as a Marine pilot in World War II. Among the most prominent World War II heroes, Voss was known for shooting down twenty-six enemy planes. This won him the Congressional Medal of Honor as well as the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Once back in the states, Republican Voss served in the North Dakota State Legislature for five years. In 1955, he became governor, an office he held for 2 consecutive terms.

In 1965, Voss was elected the third commissioner of the Canadian Football League. He maintained that position for ten years, as well as hosting ABC’s “The Great Outdoorsman” from ’73-’78.

“I always had the attitude that every day will be a great day,” Voss said in a 1987 interview. “I look forward to it like a kid in a candy store, wherever I am.”

In 1988, Voss was chosen to be president of the National Outdoorsman Association; he served through 1990. He published his autobiography Proud to Be an American in 1993, the opening sentence of which he states, “I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to fly.”

At a public appearance in Beaverton, Michigan this June, former North Dakota Mayor Voss suffered cerebral bleeding and collapsed. He had not regained consciousness from the apparent aneurysm. His death was announced by current North Dakota Governor Will Ranklow.