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    Franz, Walter J. "W.J."

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    Senate 1955-62 (District 10); Senate 1963-70 (District 18)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

    Counties Served:  Cottonwood, Jackson, Watonwan

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 1/30/1907
    Birth Place: Mountain Lake, Minnesota
    Birth County: Cottonwood
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 1/17/1985
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Mennonite
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: W.J.
    City of Residence (when first elected): Mountain Lake
    Occupation (when first elected): Merchant; Franz and Son Grocery Store, Mountain Lake

    EDUCATION

    Mountain Lake Schools; Elementary School;
    Mountain Lake Public Schools; Secondary; Graduate
    University of Minnesota, College of Business Administration; College Graduate; Business Administration

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Commission on the Problems of Mentally Retarded, Handicapped and Gifted Children; 19?? to 196?
    Municipal Government: Mountain Lake, Minnesota (Village Clerk); 1937 to 1941 [Elected]
    County Board/Commissioner: Cottonwood County, Minnesota (County Commissioner); 1941 to 1955 [Elected]
    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Statehood Centennial Commission; 195? to 195? [Appointed]
    County Board/Commissioner: Cottonwood County, Minnesota (County Welfare Board Member); 195? to 19??

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Maxine
    Children: No children
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    "...Franz was active in Republican Party politics, serving as chairman of the Cottonwood County Republican Committee and as treasurer of the Republican State Central Committee." (St. Paul Pioneer Press, January 22, 1985)

    He ran unsuccessfully for the Minnesota Senate in the 1970 election.

    He was a member of the Rotary Club.

    He died from complications due to kidney failure and leukemia, at Good Samaritan Village in Mountain Lake, Minnesota.

    He was a member of Bethel Mennonite Church in Mountain Lake, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by his obituary.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 5845

    SESSIONS SERVED

    66th Legislative Session (1969-1970) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 18
    Elected: 11/8/1966
    Residence: Mountain Lake
    Term of Office: 1/3/1967 to 1/4/1971
    Counties Represented: Cottonwood, Jackson, Watonwan
    Occupation: Owner and Operator, General Store
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Committees
    • Elections and Reapportionment
    • Labor
    • Public Highways
    • Public Welfare (Chair)
    • Rules and Legislative Expense
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Temperance and Liquor Control
    Leadership Position: President Pro Tempore
    Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election
    term photo
    Click to view

    65th Legislative Session (1967-1968)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 18
    Elected: 11/8/1966
    Residence: Mountain Lake
    Term of Office: 1/3/1967 to 1/4/1971
    Counties Represented: Cottonwood, Jackson, Watonwan
    Occupation: Owner and Operator, General Store
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Committees
    • Election and Reapportionment
    • Labor
    • Public Highways
    • Public Welfare (Chair)
    • Rules and Legislative Expense
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Temperance and Liquor Control

    64th Legislative Session (1965-1966) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 18
    Elected: 11/6/1962
    Residence: Mountain Lake
    Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/2/1967
    Counties Represented: Cottonwood, Jackson, Watonwan
    Occupation: Owner and Operator, General Store
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Elections and Reapportionment
    • Labor
    • Liquor Control
    • Public Welfare (Chair)
    • Rules and Legislative Expense
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Towns and Counties

    63rd Legislative Session (1963-1964)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 18
    Elected: 11/6/1962
    Residence: Mountain Lake
    Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/2/1967
    Counties Represented: Cottonwood, Jackson, Watonwan
    Occupation: General Store Owner and Operator
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Elections and Reapportionment
    • Labor
    • Liquor Control
    • Public Welfare (Chair)
    • Rules and Legislative Expense
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Towns and Counties
    term photo
    Click to view

    62nd Legislative Session (1961-1962) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 10
    Elected: 11/4/1958
    Residence: Mountain Lake
    Term of Office: 1/6/1959 to 1/7/1963
    Counties Represented: Cottonwood, Jackson
    Occupation: Owner and Operator, General Store
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Finance
    • Labor
    • Local Government

    61st Legislative Session (1959-1960)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 10
    Elected: 11/4/1958
    Residence: Mountain Lake
    Term of Office: 1/6/1959 to 1/7/1963
    Counties Represented: Cottonwood, Jackson
    Occupation: Merchant
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Finance
    • Labor
    • Liquor Control
    • Local Government
    • Public Welfare

    60th Legislative Session (1957-1958) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 10
    Elected: 11/2/1954
    Residence: Mountain Lake
    Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 1/5/1959
    Counties Represented: Cottonwood, Jackson
    Occupation: Merchant
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Insurance
    • Labor
    • Public Welfare
    • Railroads and Communications
    • Towns and Counties
    • University
    • Workmens Compensation and Unemployment Insurance
    term photo
    Click to view

    59th Legislative Session (1955-1956)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 10
    Elected: 11/2/1954
    Residence: Mountain Lake
    Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 1/5/1959
    Counties Represented: Cottonwood, Jackson
    Occupation: Merchant; Franz and Son Grocery Store, Mountain Lake
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Insurance
    • Labor
    • Public Welfare
    • Railroads, Telephone and Telegraph
    • Towns and Counties
    • University
    • Workmens Compensation and Unemployment Insurance

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    "Walt Franz Dies at 77 (Obituary)." Mountain Lake-Butterfield Observer/Advocate, January 23, 1985.

    Neufeld, Gordie. "As We Remember... (Obituary)." Mountain Lake-Butterfield Observer/Advocate, January 23, 1985.

    "Franz Was a Friend (Obituary)." Mankato Free Press, January 22, 1985; Mountain Lake-Butterfield Observer/Advocate, January 30, 1985.

    "Rites Set in Mountain Lake for Ex-Senator Walter Franz (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, January 22, 1985.

    "Franz May Be Pro Tem Leader in State Senate." Minneapolis Tribune, January 7, 1969.

    W.J. Franz Profile, Source Unknown, 1957?


    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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