Parish, Richard J. "Dick"
House 1959-62 (District 36); Senate 1963-66 (District 30); Senate 1971-72 (District 31); House 1973-76 (District 43B)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Counties Served:
Hennepin
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
1/4/1914
Birth Place:
Little Swan, Minnesota
Birth County:
St. Louis
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
1/31/1992
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Methodist
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Dick
City of Residence (when first elected):
Golden Valley
Occupation (when first elected):
Attorney
EDUCATION
Olivia High School; Secondary; Graduate
Hamline University; B.A.; 1935
Minneapolis College of Law; J.D.; 1943
Minneapolis College of Law; LL.B.;
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Military:
United States Navy (World War II, Officer);
194? to 19??
School Board/Administration:
District 281, Robbinsdale, Minnesota (School Board, Director);
1949 to 1958
State Board/Commission/Council:
Metropolitan Planning Commission, Minnesota;
1957 to 1958
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota Historical Society Board;
1974 to 19??
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota Public Service Commission (Chair);
06/01/1976 to 01/02/1980
[Appointed]
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Ethel
Children:
Four children: Mary, Carol, and Jane (daughters); Richard (son)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Minnesota Senate in the 1966 election. He was involved in a contested election with Eugene F. Welter in that election. Neither of them were seated until the Minnesota Senate decided that Eugene F. Welter was entitled to the seat.
He moved to Pine City, Minnesota around 1980.
"Parish caucused with the Liberals when he was first elected to the Minnesota House in 1958." (Obituary, Star Tribune, February 1, 1992)
"Parish was an influential DFLer and had been present at the convention that founded the party in 1944, his daughter said." (Obituary, Star Tribune, February 1, 1992)
He ran unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives in the 3rd Congressional District in the 1964 election. He lost to Clark MacGregor.
He was member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the Minnesota United Nations.
He died from heart failure at Lakeside Nursing Home in Pine City, Minnesota. His funeral was held at the Pine City United Methodist Church in Pine City, Minnesota.
Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975 and the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1973-74.
Body: House
District: 43B
Elected: 11/5/1974
Residence: Golden Valley
Term of Office: 1/7/1975 to 6/1/1976
(unfinished term)
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Lawyer
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance
-
Governmental Operations
-
Judiciary (Chair)
-
Rules and Legislative Administration
Reason for unfinished term:
Appointed to other office
Session Notes:
He resigned after he was appointed to the Minnesota Public Service Commission. His official term end date is uncertain. The date listed is the date he was appointed to the Public Service Commission.
Body: House
District: 43B
Elected: 11/7/1972
Residence: Golden Valley
Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/6/1975
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
Committees:
-
Education
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance
-
Governmental Operations
-
Judiciary (Chair)
Body: Senate
District: 31
Elected: 11/3/1970
Residence: Golden Valley
Term of Office: 1/5/1971 to 1/1/1973
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Party Notes: "Parish was an influential DFLer and had been present at the convention that founded the party in 1944, his daughter said." (Obituary, Star Tribune, February 1, 1992)
Committees:
-
Education
-
Elections and Reapportionment
-
Judiciary
-
Pensions and Retirement
Body: Senate
District: 30
Elected: 11/6/1962
Residence: Golden Valley
Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/2/1967
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Party Notes: "Parish was an influential DFLer and had been present at the convention that founded the party in 1944, his daughter said." (Obituary, Star Tribune, February 1, 1992)
Committees:
-
Cities of the First Class
-
Game and Fish
-
Judiciary
-
Military Affairs and Civil Defense
-
Towns and Counties
Body: Senate
District: 30
Elected: 11/6/1962
Residence: Golden Valley
Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/2/1967
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Party Notes: "Parish was an influential DFLer and had been present at the convention that founded the party in 1944, his daughter said." (Obituary, Star Tribune, February 1, 1992)
Committees:
-
Cities of the First Class
-
Game and Fish
-
Judiciary
-
Military Affairs and Civil Defense
-
Towns and Counties
Elected: 11/8/1960
Residence: Golden Valley
Term of Office: 1/3/1961 to 1/7/1963
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Party Notes: "Parish was an influential DFLer and had been present at the convention that founded the party in 1944, his daughter said." (Obituary, Star Tribune, February 1, 1992)
Committees:
-
Education
-
Elections
-
Judiciary
-
Municipal Affairs
-
Reapportionment
Elected: 11/4/1958
Residence: Golden Valley
Term of Office: 1/6/1959 to 1/2/1961
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Party Notes: "Parish caucused with the Liberals when he was first elected to the Minnesota House in 1958." (Obituary, Star Tribune, February 1, 1992); "Parish was an influential DFLer and had been present at the convention that founded the party in 1944, his daughter said." (Obituary, Star Tribune, February 1, 1992)
Committees:
-
Education
-
Elections
-
Insurance
-
Judiciary
-
Reapportionment
Articles & Books About
"Former State Lawmaker Richard J. Parish Dies (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 2, 1992, p. 9B.
"Richard Parish Dies at Age 78; Was a Legislator for 17 Years (Obituary)." Star Tribune, February 1, 1992, p. 4B.
Duckstad, Robert J. Memorandum Re: Election Contests. Minnesota: Office of Senate Counsel, December 24, 1970, p. 1-4.
Parish v. Welter, Contested Election, Majority and Minority Reports. Minnesota Journal of the Senate, January 3, 9, 11, and 30, 1967, and February 1, 1967, p. 152, 180-182, 187-188, 288-293, 335-336.
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.