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American politician

Roger Byron Wilson (born October 10, 1948) is an American politician who served as the 44th lieutenant governor of Missouri from January 1993 to October 2000 and as the 52nd governor of Missouri from October 2000 to January 2001. Wilson was serving his second four year term as lieutenant governor and was preparing to retire from elected public service when Governor Mel Carnahan died in a plane crash on October 16, 2000. Wilson first became acting governor and was sworn in as governor when Carnahan’s death was confirmed. After leaving the governor’s office, Wilson was elected by fellow Democrats to serve as Missouri Democratic Party chair.

Wilson was born in Boone County, Missouri. His family was prominent in local politics. His father Roger Woodrow Wilson served as Boone County recorder for four years and then served Boone County Collector for 26 years until his death in 1976. His grandfather Roger Isaac Wilson served as the Boone County sheriff, being killed in a shootout with bank robbers in 1933. His maternal grandfather, Ned Gibbs was also in politics, serving as Boone County recorder. and was re elected by large majorities in 1980, 1984, and 1988. In 1992, he ran for Lieutenant Governor of Missouri, and won by a plurality against State Auditor Margaret B. Kelly. He would win a second term in 1996.

Wilson's term lasted from 1993 to 2000. During his tenure, voters ratified legislation which expanded the role of Lieutenant Governor, a role once derided for its uselessness. As a result, Wilson served on numerous state boards, such as the Missouri Housing Development Commission, chairing the Missouri Tourism Commission, and being a co chair of the Missouri Commission on Management and Productivity. In 1995, Wilson served as the tie breaking vote, defeating a provision that would have enabled a referendum on concealed carry. The move proved controversial among opponents of concealed carry and Governor Carnahan. Wilson served as acting governor on numerous occasions, such as in 1997, when for a few weeks, Governor Carnahan was away overseas on a trade mission in Southeast Asia.

Wilson initially was seen as a strong potential candidate to run for Governor in 2000. However, owing to being significantly outraised by State Treasurer Bob Holden, and wanting to spend more time with his family, Wilson opted not run for Governor. A year later, he declined to run for re election to Lt. Governor. In October 2000, on his way to a campaign event for U. S. Senate, Governor Mel Carnahan died in an airplane crash. Wilson, who was in St. Louis preparing for an event the next day, was immediately rushed back to the state's capital by state police to serve as acting governor. He was officially sworn in as Governor two days later after Carnahan's death was confirmed by authorities. Wilson served as governor until the end of Carnahan's unfinished term in 2001. Following Governor Carnahan's posthumous election to the U. S. Senate, Wilson appointed his widow Jean Carnahan to serve in his place.

In August 2004, Wilson became Chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party and endorsed Claire McCaskill in her bid to unseat incumbent Governor Bob Holden in the Democratic Primary. McCaskill won the primary, but lost the general election to Republican Matt Blunt. In January 2007, Wilson announced he would not seek an additional term as Democratic Chairman.

On April 12, 2012, Wilson pleaded guilty to federal charges of money laundering. Wilson had improperly donated money to the Missouri Democratic Party and billed the public entity Missouri Employers Mutual for legal fees to cover it up. Wilson pled guilty and was fined $2,000 by the Missouri Ethics Commission. In July he was sentenced to two years of probation on the money laundering charge. Wilson was also ousted as President and CEO of Missouri Employers Mutual in Columbia, Missouri in June 2011.