Rodriguez, Sr., Frank J.
House 1979-82 (District 67A); House 1983-84 (District 65B)
Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Counties Served:
Dakota, Ramsey
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
3/??/1920
Birth Place:
Sheridan, Wyoming
Birth County:
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
2/9/2007
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Catholic
Reported Minority: Hispanic, Latino or Spanish Origin
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Saint Paul
Occupation (when first elected):
Business and Financial Secretary-Treasurer, Construction and General Laborers' Union Local #132
EDUCATION
Humboldt High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1940
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Municipal Government:
St. Paul, Minnesota (City Public Housing Agency);
19?? to 19??
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Ramona F. Reyes (married around 1946)
Children:
Seven children: AnnaMarie and Shirley (daughters); Frank Jr., John, James, Michael, and David (sons)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
He was the first known Hispanic to serve in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Conrad Vega was the first known Hispanic to serve in the Minnesota Legislature. He was the son of a Mexican immigrant. (Union Advocate, 7/2/1979)
He moved to St. Paul, Minnesota's West Side around 1922, with his parents.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1984 Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party primary election. Sandy Pappas' margin of victory over Frank J. Rodriguez, Sr. in the primary election was so small that a recount occurred. She was determined to be the winner.
His funeral was held on February 16, 2007 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was buried in Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
He was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Religion provided by his obituary.
Body: House
District: 65B
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/7/1985
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Union Financial Secretary, Treasurer
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Governmental Operations
-
Governmental Operations: Pensions and Investments
-
Labor-Management Relations
-
Labor-Management Relations: General Labor Legislation (Chair)
-
Transportation
-
Transportation: Highway and Motor Vehicle
Body: House
District: 67A
Elected: 11/4/1980
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
Counties Represented:
Dakota, Ramsey
Occupation: Union Financial Secretary-Treasurer, Construction and General Laborers' Local #132
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Governmental Operations
-
Governmental Operations: Personnel
-
Health and Welfare
-
Health and Welfare: Departmental Affairs
-
Labor-Management Relations
-
Labor-Management Relations: Migrant Health Task Force
-
Labor-Management Relations: Negotiations and General Labor Legislation
Body: House
District: 67A
Elected: 6/19/1979
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 6/26/1979 to 1/5/1981
(Special Election)
Counties Represented:
Dakota, Ramsey
Occupation: Business and Financial Secretary-Treasurer, Construction and General Laborers' Union Local #132
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Governmental Operations
-
Health and Welfare
-
Labor-Management Relations
Session Notes:
Frank J. Rodriguez, Sr. won the special election after the seat was declared vacant. He replaced Robert L. Pavlak who was subject to a contested election.
Articles & Books About
"Rodriguez, Frank J., Sr. (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 14, 2007.
Behr, Kevin. "Frank Rodriguez, 86, Active in Labor, Politics." Star Tribune, February 13, 2007, p. B6.
Archive Collections
Frank J. Rodriguez Papers, 1977-1984
- Available in the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections
Mexican-American Oral History Project: Interview with Frank Rodriguez
- Available in the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.
The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.