Overview

Wheelock "Whee" Whitney, Jr. (July 30, 1926 – May 20, 2016) was an American businessman, investment professional, civic leader and sports executive. Known in Minnesota public life for several decades, Whitney combined a private-sector career with teaching, political campaigns and involvement in local cultural and sporting institutions. He spent part of his professional life as an investment banker and later taught at a business school while also supporting charitable and civic causes.

Early life and education

Whitney was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota and raised in a family active in regional commerce and public affairs. He was educated at elite preparatory and university institutions, attending Phillips Academy and later graduating from Yale University. His Midwestern roots and East Coast education framed a career that moved between finance, teaching and public service, beginning in the late 1940s and 1950s in Minnesota and beyond. His birthplace is frequently noted as St. Cloud, where the local community remembered his later civic involvement.

Business, teaching and civic work

From 1957 until about 1972 Whitney worked in investment banking, building a reputation as a pragmatic financier and dealmaker. After leaving full‑time banking he taught management and business subjects at the Carlson School of Management, sharing practical experience with students. Over a long career he also served on boards, supported museums and educational initiatives, and was active in philanthropic efforts in the Twin Cities region.

Political career

Whitney won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota in 1964 and ran in a high‑profile general election that featured prominent national issues; he was defeated by Democrat Eugene McCarthy in that campaign (1964 Senate race). Later, in 1982 he again became the Republican nominee, this time for governor of Minnesota; he lost the general election to incumbent Rudy Perpich (Rudy Perpich). His political profile reflected a moderate Republican approach typical of many Midwestern business leaders of his era (statewide campaigns).

Sports ownership and management

Aside from finance and politics, Whitney was prominent in Minnesota professional sports. He served as a team executive for the Minnesota Twins and was a part‑owner and at one time president of the Minnesota Vikings, contributing to the administrative and civic dimensions of major league baseball and professional football in the state. His involvement illustrates how business leaders often play multiple roles in supporting regional sports, from ownership and governance to stadium and community relations.

Legacy and death

Wheelock Whitney's public life combined private enterprise, teaching, electoral politics and sports leadership. He was widely remembered in Minnesota for his civic engagement and philanthropic support of arts, education and community organizations. Whitney died on May 20, 2016, at age 89 while under hospice care in Independence, Minnesota (hospice). His varied career left an imprint on the state's political and cultural institutions and on many who encountered him as a teacher, executive or civic volunteer.

Selected roles

  • Investment banker (1957–1972) — finance
  • Instructor at the Carlson School of Management — business education
  • 1964 Republican nominee for U.S. Senate — opponent: Eugene McCarthy
  • 1982 Republican nominee for governor of Minnesota — opponent: Rudy Perpich
  • Team executive, Minnesota Twins; part‑owner and president, Minnesota Vikings