Hugo Wedell

Hugo T. Wedell was born in Hillsboro in 1890 and, at first, became a professional baseball player.  He played for the Tri-State League’s York White Roses in 1913 and would later manager several minor league and semi-pro teams, including one in Wichita.

Wedell graduated from the University of Kansas in 1915, then again in 1920 with a law degree.  Wedell practiced law in Neosho County and unsuccessfully ran for the state senate in 1930.

Wedell had been working as the Chanute City Attorney for a few months when he was appointed as a justice to the Kansas Supreme Court to fill a vacancy.  He won a full term in 1936, then won reelection in 1942 and 1948.  He declined to run for reelection in 1954.

Wedell died In Wichita in 1975 at the age of 85.