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  • House Chaplains

    • House Chaplains, 1849-present

    Compiled by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library

    While efforts have been made to verify this information in more than one source, the library cannot guarantee the accuracy of sources; errors are possible. Please report any errors to the library staff.

    Years Chaplain Denomination
    2023-2024 Individual Guest Chaplains Various
    2021-2022 Individual Guest Chaplains Various
    2019-2020 Individual Guest Chaplains Various
    2017-2018 Individual Guest Chaplains Various
    2015-2016 Individual Guest Chaplains Various
    2013-2014 Individual Guest Chaplains Various
    2011-2012 Rev. Grady St. Dennis Lutheran
    2009-2010 Rev. Dennis J. Johnson Lutheran
    2008 Rev. Richard D. Buller Presbyterian
    2007-2008* Rev. Paul Rogers Lutheran
    2005-2006 Rev. Lonnie E. Titus Assemblies of God
    2003-2004 Rev. Lonnie E. Titus Assemblies of God
    2001-2002 Rev. Lonnie E. Titus Assemblies of God
    1999-2000 Rev. Lonnie E. Titus Assemblies of God
    1997-1998 Ronald A. Smith (appointed 4/18/1997, elected 1/26/1998) Baptist
    1995-1997? Msgr. James D. Habiger Catholic
    1993-1994 Rev. Dr. Donald M. Meisel Presbyterian
    1991-1992 Msgr. James D. Habiger Catholic
    1989-1990 Msgr. James D. Habiger Catholic
    1987-1988 Rev. Delton Krueger Methodist
    1985-1986 Rev. Howard C. Gravrock Lutheran
    1983-1984 Rev. Tomas E. Meeks Lutheran
    1981-1982 Father William Mertz Catholic
    1979-1980 Rev. Philip L. Hansen Lutheran
    1977-1978 Rev. James A. Gullickson (Chaplain-designate, 1977) Lutheran
    1975-1976 Rev. Tomas E. Meeks Lutheran
    1973-1974 Father Steven Adrian Catholic
    Rev. Donald F. Bargen Catholic
    Father Walter L. Sochacki Catholic
    Rev. Mordeau Williams African Methodist Episcopal
    1971E Rev. Roger F. Carroll Catholic
    1971 Dr. Walter W. Wynkoop United Church of Christ
    Dr. Frederick C. Schwartz Jewish
    Virgil L. Brenny Catholic
    Charles H. Akre Lutheran
    Thomas Lee Basich Lutheran
    John G. Donahue Catholic
    Roger F. Carroll Catholic
    1969** Rev. LeRoy H. Klaus Methodist
    Rabbi Bernard S. Raskas Jewish
    Rev. Ambrose R. Filbin Catholic
    Rev. Edward J. Flahavan Catholic
    Rev. Paul Koscielniak Catholic
    Rev. Clarence J. Vavra Catholic
    Rev. Donald F. Wegscheider Catholic
    Rev. Sherman H. Miller Episcopal Church
    Rev. Paul John Williams Baptist
    1967E*** Representative Emery Barrette Methodist
    1967 Rev. Lloyd J. Fortin Catholic
    1966E Alvin H. Rogen
    1965 Rev. James R. Anderson
    1963 Dr. Irving West
    1961E Emrys Price Thomas Congregational
    1961 Rt. Rev. Msgr. John J. Cullinan (1st half of session) Catholic
    Rabbi Bernard S. Raskas (2nd half of session) Jewish
    1959E Pastor Theodore H. Goehle Lutheran
    1959 Rev. Gordon J. Hoffman Catholic
    1957 Rev. Vincent J. O’Connell, S.M. Catholic
    1955 Rev. Vincent J. O’Connell, S.M. Catholic
    1953 Rev. John P. Woods Presbyterian
    1951 Father Louis Emmerth, S.M. Catholic
    1949 Father Max J. Matz Catholic
    1947 Rev. Francis C. Wilkins Catholic
    1945 Rev. Terence L. Moore Catholic
    1944E Rev. Vincent J. Yany Catholic
    1943 Rev. John Stelmes Catholic
    1941 Rev. Joseph Simonson Lutheran
    1939 Rev. Max J. Matz Catholic
    1937E Rev. George C. Koehler
    1937 Rev. Charles J. Keefe Catholic
    1935 Rev. Max J. Matz Catholic
    Rev. Cornelius H. Hook Presbyterian
    1933 Rev. Charles L. Grant Lutheran
    1931 Rev. Charles L. Grant Lutheran
    1929 Rev. Frank Doran D.D. Methodist
    1927 Rev. Frank Doran D.D. Methodist
    1925 Rev. Alfred G. Pinkham Episcopal Church
    1923 Rev. Walter S. Howard Episcopal Church
    1921 Rev. Walter S. Howard Episcopal Church
    1919 Rev. W. J. Brown Congregational
    1917 Fred S. Attwood Christian Science
    1915 W. R. Keesey Methodist
    1913 G. W. Lutz
    1912E M. M. Maxwell
    1911 C. W. B. Ellis
    1909 R. D. Phillips
    1907 E. K. Cooper
    1905 Robert Forbes
    1903 H. W. Knowles
    1902E H. W. Knowles
    1901 O. N. Lindh
    1899 C. M. Heard
    1897 Robert McCune
    1895 I. C. Fortin
    1893 William Wilkinson
    1891 M. M. Maxwell
    1889 W. A. Harrington
    1887 W. A. Harrington
    1885 W. A. Harrington
    1883 M. McG. Dana
    1881 G. W. T. Wright
    1879 David Brooks
    1878 C. Hobart
    1877 C. Hobart
    1876 M. N. Adams
    1875**** Clergy of St. Paul (gratuitously)
    1874 F. T. Brown
    1873 S. T. Sterrett
    1872 S. T. Sterrett
    1871 S. N. Phelps
    1870 E. R. Lathrop
    1869 C. G. Bowdish
    1868 C. G. Bowdish
    1867 Daniel Cobb
    1866 Daniel Cobb
    1865 Cyrus Brooks
    1864 A. D. Williams
    1863 George S. Biscoe
    1862 J. C. Whitney
    1861 A. S. Fiske
    1859-1860 John Mattock
    1857-1858 John Penman
    1857T Mr. Kinney
    1856T Rev. E. D. Neill
    1855T Rev. Mr. E. A. Hodsdon Universalist
    1854T Rev. Mr. J. Bradley
    1853T Rev. Mr. Chamberlain
    1852T Clergy of this Territory (alternating)
    Rev. Mr. C. Hobart
    Rev. Mr. Bradley
    Rev. Mr. Fullerton
    Rev. Mr. Webber
    Rev. Mr. Riheldaffer
    Rev. Mr. Ravoux
    1851T***** Rev. E. D. Neill (1st part of session)
    Rev. Mr. C. Hobart (2nd part of session)
    1849T****** Rev. Mr. C. Hobart

    * Rev. Paul Rogers resigned mid-biennial session 2007/2008. Prayer was offered by the Reverend Paul Rogers, House Chaplain on February 12, 2008.

    ** Rev. LeRoy H. Klaus (elected January 7, 1969) resigned effective January 26, 1969.
    Rabbi Bernard S. Raskas (elected January 27, 1969) resigned effective February 15, 1969.
    Rev. Ambrose R. Filbin (elected February 17, 1969) resigned effective March 7, 1969.
    Rev. Edward J. Flahavan (elected March 11, 1969) resigned effective March 27, 1969.
    Rev. Paul Koscielniak (elected March 29, 1969) resigned effective April 6, 1969.
    Rev. Clarence J. Vavra (elected April 7, 1969) resigned effective April 16, 1969.
    Rev. Donald F. Wegscheider (elected April 17, 1969) resigned effective April 26, 1969.
    Rev. Sherman H. Miller (elected April 28, 1969) resigned effective May 16, 1969.

    *** Representative Emery Barrette, a Methodist minister by occupation, offered the prayers during the seven day extra session of 1967.

    **** Rev. F. T. Brown, Rev. J. Marvin, Rev. Robert Smith, and Rev. Dr. Breed are listed on various days in the beginning. Later in session, the Journals don’t record a prayer being offered.

    ***** Rev. E. D. Neill was elected by the members on January 4, 1851. He resigned on January 30, 1851. By resolution, Rev. Mr. C. Hobart was chosen to replace him on January 31, 1851.

    ****** Rev. Mr. C. Hobart was selected by the adoption of a resolution on September 4, 1849. Rev. Mr. E. D. Neill appears to have been his substitute.

    Compiled by: The Legislative Reference Library
    Compiled from: Minnesota Legislative Manuals (especially 1917) and House Journals

    Following year: E = Extra (Special) Session, T = Territorial Legislature

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    Historical Information