Ole Juulson Kvale (O. J. Kvale) was born February 6, 1869 near Decorah, Iowa.  He attended Luther College from 1883-1890, attended Luther Seminary and was ordained in 1894, and graduated with a Master of Arts degree from the University of Chicago in 1914.  In 1917, he became the secretary of the Norwegian Synod.  He served in Orfordville, Wisconsin from 1894 - 1917 and in Benson (Swift County), Minnesota, from 1917 until elected to Congress.

Kvale was unsuccessful as an Independent Republican candidate for election in 1920 to the 67th Congress, but he was elected as a Farmer-Labor candidate fo the 68th-71st Congresses and served from March 4, 1923 until his death on September 11, 1929 near Otter Tail Lake, Minnesota.

O.J. Kvale was instrumental in helping Luther College obtain a license for KWLC in December 1926 and Luther began broadcasting that January.  On June 2, 1925, Kvale gave the commencement address at Luther College, titled "The Soul of Luther College."