Jack Romans

Romans was born in North Loup, Nebraska, and graduated from Ord High School in 1932.^[1][2] He owned and operated Romans Freight Lines, and testified before the legislature in 1958 that the Teamsters organized a boycott against his company over allegations that he refused to allow his employees to join the union.^[3] In 1950, Romans was elected to the Valley County Board of Supervisors.^[4][5]

In 1954, when incumbent State Senator Hugh Carson declined to seek re-election, Romans ran to succeed him in the 29th district, which included Greeley, Howard, Valley, and Wheeler counties in central Nebraska.^[6] He faced LeRoy Bahensky, a farmer, and Arnold Tuning, the former Superintendent of the Arcadia Public Schools, in the nonpartisan primary.^[7] Bahensky placed first in the primary, winning 46 percent of the vote to Romans's 30 percent, and they advanced to the general election.^[8] Bahensky defeated Romans in a landslide in the general election, winning 68–32 percent.^[8]

Bahensky declined to seek a second term in 1958, and Roman ran to succeed him.^[9] In the primary election, he faced a rematch against Tuning, as well as car dealer Clayton Peterson and farmer Henry Lange.^[10] Romans narrowly placed first, winning 26 percent of the vote and advancing to the general election against Petersen, who played second with 25 percent.^[11] Romans ultimately defeated Petersen, winning 54 percent of the vote to his 46 percent.^[11][12]

Romans ran for re-election in 1960, and was challenged by Tuning in the primary.^[13] Romans placed first in the primary by a wide margin, winning 60 percent of the vote to Tuning's 40 percent, and they advanced to the general election, where Romans defeated Tuning with 57 percent of the vote.^[14]

In 1962, Romans ran for re-election to a third term and was challenged by Bahensky.^[15] Romans placed first in the primary, winning 52 percent of the vote to Bahensky's 36 percent,^[16] and they both advanced to the general election.^[17] Bahensky narrowly defeated Romans in the general election, winning 51–49 percent.^[16][18]

In 1964, Romans announced that he would challenge incumbent Democratic Governor Frank B. Morrison for re-election.^[19] He faced Lieutenant Governor Dwight W. Burney in the Republican primary, and attacked Burney for supporting a sales tax.^[20] Burney defeated Romans in a landslide, receiving 59 percent of the vote to Romans's 32 percent.^[21][22] Burney was ultimately defeated by Morrison in the general election.

In 1974, Romans ran for the Nebraska Public Service Commission, challenging incumbent Commissioner John Swanson in the Republican primary.^[23] Romans was joined in the primary by State Treasurer Wayne Swanson, former State Senator Lester Harsh, and cattleman Rex Haberman.^[24] Romans won a narrow plurality in the primary, receiving 30 percent of the vote to Haberman's 23 percent.^[25] In the general election, Romans faced independent Ralph Miller, a railroad machinist,^[26] and defeated him in a landslide, winning 66 percent of the vote.^[25]

Romans ran for re-election in 1980,^[27] and was challenged by former Congressman Donald McGinley, who served on the Industrial Relations Commission.^[28] Romans defeated McGinley, winning 57 percent of the vote.^[29]

Romans died on February 4, 1982, several days after undergoing heart surgery.^[1]