Jack B. Olson, three-term lieutenant governor and leader in the tourist business, was born in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, on August 29, 1920. His grandfather, Benjamin Olson, had founded the Olson Boat Company, the oldest tourist company in the state, and by age fifteen Olson had become a boat pilot and guide with the intention of carrying on the family business. However, after a career as a star athlete at Wisconsin Dells High School, Olson determined to become a teacher and athletic coach. He enrolled at the University of Wisconsin and after his freshman year transferred to Western Michigan University, where he was also a star athlete. In March 1942, he married Eleanor Lang, daughter of a Kalamazoo physician. The following month he enlisted in the Navy, but received his B.S. degree in education in June of that year nevertheless. During the war he served as a PT boat commander in the Atlantic. After an honorable discharge in 1946, Olson returned to Wisconsin to operate the family business.
In the 1950's he began to be active in Republican politics and from 1957 to 1960 he was Columbia County chairman. In 1960 he campaigned unsuccessfully for the gubernatorial nomination again Philip G. Kuehn, withdrawing before the party nomination was made. In 1962 Olson was elected lieutenant governor. Two years later he was unseated by Patrick J. Lucey, but he returned to the second highest elected office in 1966 and again in 1968. In 1970 he made an unsuccessful run for governor against Patrick Lucey.
Olson was an early supporter of Richard M. Nixon and in 1960 he was state chairman of the presidential campaign in Wisconsin. Twelve years later he declined a position as head of the senior citizens' section of the presidential campaign. In 1970 Olson was appointed to the President's Air Quality Board and the Environmental Quality Committee. In 1976 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention and during the Ford administration was appointed ambassador to the Bahamas.
Olson has also been prominently involved with a host of civic, tourist, and business organizations and has received numerous awards and citations in recognition of his work. From 1952 to 1957 he was president of the Wisconsin Tourist Council. In 1969 he received that organization's award for tourist promotion. He was director of the Wisconsin Good Roads Association for twelve years. In 1964 he was head of the Wisconsin World's Fair Participation Corporation and the following year he directed the Wisconsin Trade Mission to Europe. In 1965 he was official trade representative. Olson has been a member of the Wisconsin Dells Chamber of Commerce and was director, 1972-1973, of the state chamber. From 1966 to 1969 he was state chairman of the March of Dimes campaign.
