(June 3, 1900 – August 6, 1974)
An educator and long-serving member of Congress, Mundt was born in Humboldt, South Dakota, to Ferdinand John Mundt and Rose Schneider Mundt, who were both children of German immigrants. He attended public schools in Humboldt, Pierre and Madison, and found himself drawn to oratory and debate. He left South Dakota for college and studied economics at Carleton College in Minnesota. He returned to his home state and started teaching at Bryant High School in 1923. The next year he married Mary Elizabeth Moses, whom he had met in college and who also taught at Bryant High School. Mundt taught social studies and coached the debate team. He and his wife both earned their master’s degrees by attending Columbia University in the summer months. He became the school superintendent in the mid-1920s and later he and his wife taught at what is now known as Dakota State University. He became president of the National Forensics League which was created in 1925 to promote higher standards in high school debating, a position he continued to hold while he served in Congress. He left teaching to pursue his many business interests in 1936. An avid conservationist, he served on the State Game and Fish Commission from 1931–1937. He was also active in the Masons, Elk Club Kiwanis and his local Methodist Church.
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