Phil Saunders (September 10, 1920 – March 15, 1997) was a soldier who fought in World War II,[1] 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.[2]
Saunders was a Republican.
Saunders graduated from the Northwestern University School of Law.[3]
On July 27, 1954, Saunders was nominated by acclimation, something Governor Sigurd Anderson stated he thought that was the first time the nomination for Attorney General for a first term without a contest.[4] Saunders general election opponent was Democrat Fred Nichols.[5] Saunders was elected Attorney General in 1954.[6]
On July 16, 1956, Saunders was again nominated by acclimation in his re-election bid at the state convention in Pierre.[7] Saunders defeated Democrat William H. Heuermann by obtaining 156,149 votes to Heuermann's 127,988 votes. Saunders was re-elected Attorney General in 1956.[8]
In 1958, Saunders ran for Governor of South Dakota. He defeated L. Roy Houck for the Republican nomination,[9] and lost to Ralph Herseth in the general election.