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Larson, Calvin R. "Cal"

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 1967-72 (District 55); House 1973-74 (District 11A); Senate 1987-2006 (District 10)

Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Counties Served: Becker, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stearns, Traverse, Wadena

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 8/10/1930

Birth Place: Glyndon, Minnesota

Birth County: Clay

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death: 4/1/2024

Gender: Male

Religion: Lutheran

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names: Cal

City of Residence (when first elected): Fergus Falls

Occupation (when first elected): Special Representative, Businessmen's Assurance Company of America

EDUCATION

Badger High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1948
Concordia College, Moorhead; B.A.; Political Science and Business Administration, 1952

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Municipal Board/Commission: Seaway Port Authority of Duluth; [Dates Unknown]

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Great Lakes Commission; 19?? to ?

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission; 19?? to ?

Military: United States Navy (Korean War); 1952 to 1956

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Statehood Sesquicentennial Commission; 2006 to 12/31/2008 [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Loretta Pederson (married August 28, 1955)
Children: Two children: Laura and Peder
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: rural economic development/expansion, education, taxes.

"His long list of legislative achievements ranged from establishing the Fergus Falls Veterans Home, imporoving te local communtiy college and establishing Glendalough State Park to his education committee work in the 1960s that helped open the door for the first Minnesota State High School League girls' sports." [Fergus Falls Journal, April 3, 2024]

He was a member of the Republican Party. (Minneapolis Star, May 15, 1974)

Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1987-88.

His memorial service will be held on June 7, 2024 at 1pm at Zion Lutheran Church on Franklin Lake in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota.

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Total Days Served: 10227

SESSIONS SERVED

84th Legislative Session (2005-2006) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2005

Body: Senate

District: 10

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Fergus Falls

Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 12/31/2006
Oath Date: 1/7/2003

Counties Represented: Becker, Otter Tail, Wadena

Occupation: Consultant

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2005 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2005 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Commerce
Commerce: Consumer Protection, Banking and Insurance
Commerce: No Fault Insurance
Finance
Finance: Higher Education Budget Division
Finance: State Government Budget Division
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules

Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election

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83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/2003

Body: Senate

District: 10

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Fergus Falls

Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 12/31/2006
Oath Date: 1/7/2003

Counties Represented: Becker, Otter Tail, Wadena

Occupation: Consultant

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2003 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Commerce and Utilities-2003/Commerce-2004 [He was a member in 2004 only.]
Finance
Finance: Higher Education Budget Division
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules

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82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2001

Body: Senate

District: 10

Elected: 11/7/2000

Residence: Fergus Falls

Term of Office: 1/1/2001 to 1/5/2003
Oath Date: 1/3/2001

Counties Represented: Douglas, Otter Tail, Pope, Stearns

Occupation: Consultant

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2001 1st Sp.S. - Author
2002 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Commerce
Commerce: Banking
Commerce: Consumer Protection and Regulated Industries
Education
Education: Higher Education Budget Division
Education: Workforce Education
Finance
Finance: State Government, Economic Development and Judiciary Budget Division
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules

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81st Legislative Session (1999-2000) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1999

Body: Senate

District: 10

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Fergus Falls

Term of Office: 1/6/1997 to 12/31/2000
Oath Date: 1/7/1997

Counties Represented: Douglas, Otter Tail, Pope, Stearns

Occupation: Consultant

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Children, Families and Learning
Children, Families and Learning/Education Finance: Higher Education Budget Division
Commerce
Commerce: Banking
Education Finance
Election Laws
Jobs, Energy and Community Development/Commerce/Human Resources Finance Comm.: Economic Development Budget Division
Rules and Administration

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1997

Body: Senate

District: 10

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Fergus Falls

Term of Office: 1/6/1997 to 12/31/2000
Oath Date: 1/7/1997

Counties Represented: Douglas, Otter Tail, Pope, Stearns

Occupation: Consultant

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Children, Families and Learning
Children, Families and Learning/Education Finance: Higher Education Budget Division
Commerce
Commerce: Banking
Education Finance
Election Laws
Jobs, Energy and Community Development/Commerce/Human Resources Finance Comm.: Economic Development Budget Division
Rules and Administration

79th Legislative Session (1995-1996) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1995

Body: Senate

District: 10

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Fergus Falls

Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/5/1997
Oath Date: 1/5/1993

Counties Represented: Douglas, Otter Tail, Pope, Stearns

Occupation: Insurance Broker

Party: Independent Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Commerce and Consumer Protection
Commerce and Consumer Protection: Banking
Commerce and Consumer Protection: Insurance
Education
Education: Education Funding Division
Education: Higher Education Division
Finance
Rules and Administration

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78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1993

Body: Senate

District: 10

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Fergus Falls

Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/5/1997
Oath Date: 1/5/1993

Counties Represented: Douglas, Otter Tail, Pope, Stearns

Occupation: Insurance Broker

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Commerce and Consumer Protection
Commerce and Consumer Protection: Banking
Commerce and Consumer Protection: Insurance
Education
Education: Education Funding Division
Education: Higher Education Division
Finance
Veterans and General Legislation

77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/1991

Body: Senate

District: 10

Elected: 11/6/1990

Residence: Fergus Falls

Term of Office: 1/7/1991 to 1/3/1993
Oath Date: 1/8/1991

Counties Represented: Becker, Otter Tail

Occupation: Insurance Broker

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Development
Agriculture and Rural Development: Rural Development
Commerce
Commerce: Consumer Protection/Regulated Industries (Liquor)
Commerce: Insurance
Education
Education: American Indian Education
Education: Education Funding Division
Education: Higher Education
Finance
Finance: Environment and Natural Resources Division

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76th Legislative Session (1989-1990) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1989

Body: Senate

District: 10

Elected: 11/4/1986

Residence: Fergus Falls

Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
Oath Date: 1/6/1987

Counties Represented: Becker, Otter Tail

Occupation: Real Estate/Insurance Broker

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Development
Agriculture and Rural Development: Agricultural Credit
Education
Education: Higher Education Division
Education: Indian Education
Education: Joint Senate/House Library
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids Division
Veterans and Military Affairs

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/1987

Body: Senate

District: 10

Elected: 11/4/1986

Residence: Fergus Falls

Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
Oath Date: 1/6/1987

Counties Represented: Becker, Otter Tail

Occupation: Real Estate and Insurance Broker

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Agriculture
Agriculture: Agriculture Credit
Education
Education: Higher Education Division
Education: Joint Senate/House Library
Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources: Public Lands and Waters
Veterans

68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/2/1973

Body: House

District: 11A

Elected: 11/7/1972

Residence: Fergus Falls

Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/5/1975
Oath Date: 1/2/1973

Counties Represented: Grant, Otter Tail, Traverse

Occupation: Partner, Reitan-Larson Co.; Mortgage Loans, Insurance and Property Management

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Education
Financial Institutions and Insurance
Governmental Operations
Rules and Legislative Administration

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67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1971

Body: House

District: 55

Elected: 11/3/1970

Residence: Fergus Falls

Term of Office: 1/4/1971 to 12/31/1972
Oath Date: 1/5/1971

Counties Represented: Otter Tail

Occupation: Partner; Reitan-Larson Co., Mortgage Loans, Insurance and Property Management

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Education
Financial Institutions
Governmental Operations
Higher Education
Insurance
Labor Relations

66th Legislative Session (1969-1970)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1969

Body: House

District: 55

Elected: 11/5/1968

Residence: Fergus Falls

Term of Office: 1/6/1969 to 1/3/1971
Oath Date: 1/7/1969

Counties Represented: Otter Tail

Occupation: Partner; Reitan-Larson Co., Mortgage Loans, Insurance and Property Management

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Cities of the Second and Third Class
Crime Prevention
Education
Employee Compensation and Retirements
Higher Education
Insurance
Public Institutions

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65th Legislative Session (1967-1968)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1967

Body: House

District: 55

Elected: 11/8/1966

Residence: Fergus Falls

Term of Office: 1/2/1967 to 1/5/1969
Oath Date: 1/3/1967

Counties Represented: Otter Tail

Occupation: Special Representative, Businessmen's Assurance Company of America

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Civil Administration
Dairy Products and Livestock
Education
Government Employee Security
Insurance and Securities
Labor-Management Relations

OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About

"Former Minnesota Sen. Calvin Larson dies at 93." Fargo Forum, April 8, 2024.
"Larson, Cal." Star Tribune, April 7, 2024, P. B10.
"Calvin Larson 1930-2024." Fergus Falls Journal, April 3, 2024.

News Sources

The Library maintains newspaper clippings on individual legislators during their terms. Clippings are available from 1973 to the present in a variety of formats: 1973-1999, microfiche available at the Library; 2000-2009, scanned in yearly compilations and digitally available on the legislative network; 2009-present, archived in a searchable database maintained by the Library and available on the legislative network.

District News Files

2000 (10)

2001 (10)

2002 (10)

2003 (10)

2004 (10)

2005 (10)

2006 (10)

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

Photographs

Senator Cal Larson studies a bill during a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1990. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..

Senator Pat Pariseau, Senator Phyllis McQuaid and Senator Cal Larson confer on the Senate floor. c. 1989-1990. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..

Senator Cal Larson confers with a colleague in the Senate Chamber, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1987. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..

Senator Cal Larson listens in committee, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1987. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..

Senator Gen Olson and Senator Cal Larson discuss a bill with another senator during a Senate floor session, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1987. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..

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