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    Welch, Thomas P.

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    Senate 1939-62 (District 27)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election

    Counties Served:  Wright

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 6/5/1897
    Birth Place: Jacksonville Township, Iowa
    Birth County: Chickasaw
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 7/28/1974
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Buffalo
    Occupation (when first elected): Lawyer

    EDUCATION

    Country Schools; Elementary School;
    Hastings High School; Secondary;
    St. Thomas Academy; Secondary; Graduate, 1915
    College of St. Thomas; Attended College;
    St. Paul College of Law; LL.B.; June, 1922; Admitted to the Bar, March 1922

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    State Board/Commission/Council: Great Lakes Compact Commission, Minnesota Delegation (Chair); 19?? to 19??
    Military: United States Armed Forces (World War I); 191? to 19??
    County Attorney: Wright County, Minnesota (First Appointed, Then Elected); 08/01/1925 to 01/01/1939 [Appointed]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Mary Lillian Peifer (married July 8, 1925)
    Children: Two children: Mary and Suzanne (daughters)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He moved to Minnesota in 1902 and was raised on a farm in Cottage Grove Township, Minnesota. He moved to Monticello, Minnesota in 1924. He came to Buffalo, Minnesota around 1925.

    He died at a retirement center in Buffalo, Minnesota. His funeral was held at St. Francis Catholic Church in Buffalo, Minnesota. He was buried in the St. Francis Cemetery.

    His religion was provided by his obituary.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 8771

    SESSIONS SERVED

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

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 27
    Elected: 11/4/1958
    Residence: Buffalo
    Term of Office: 1/6/1959 to 1/7/1963
    Counties Represented: Wright
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Elections and Reapportionment
    • Game and Fish
    • Judiciary (Chair)
    • Labor
    • Public Highways
    • Rules and Legislative Expense
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Transportion and Communications

    61st Legislative Session (1959-1960)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 27
    Elected: 11/4/1958
    Residence: Buffalo
    Term of Office: 1/6/1959 to 1/7/1963
    Counties Represented: Wright
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Elections and Reapportionment
    • Game and Fish
    • Judiciary (Chair)
    • Labor
    • Public Highways
    • Rules and Legislative Expense
    • Taxes
    • Transportation

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

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 27
    Elected: 11/2/1954
    Residence: Buffalo
    Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 1/5/1959
    Counties Represented: Wright
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Aviation
    • Game and Fish
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary (Chair)
    • Labor
    • Public Highways
    • Railroads and Communications
    • Rules and Legislative Expense
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    Leadership Position: President Pro Tempore
    term photo
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    59th Legislative Session (1955-1956)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 27
    Elected: 11/2/1954
    Residence: Buffalo
    Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 1/5/1959
    Counties Represented: Wright
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Aviation
    • Game and Fish
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary (Chair)
    • Labor
    • Public Highways
    • Railroads, Telephone and Telegraph
    • Rules and Legislative Expense
    • Taxes and Tax Laws

    58th Legislative Session (1953-1954) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 27
    Elected: 11/7/1950
    Residence: Buffalo
    Term of Office: 1/2/1951 to 1/3/1955
    Counties Represented: Wright
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Aviation
    • Civil Defense
    • Committees (Chair)
    • Game and Fish
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary
    • Labor (Chair)
    • Public Highways
    • Railroads
    • Taxes and Tax Laws

    57th Legislative Session (1951-1952)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 27
    Elected: 11/7/1950
    Residence: Buffalo
    Term of Office: 1/2/1951 to 1/3/1955
    Counties Represented: Wright
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Aviation
    • Committees (Chair)
    • Game and Fish
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary
    • Labor (Chair)
    • Public Highways
    • Railroads
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    term photo
    Click to view

    56th Legislative Session (1949-1950) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 27
    Elected: 11/5/1946
    Residence: Buffalo
    Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/1/1951
    Counties Represented: Wright
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Aviation
    • Game and Fish
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary
    • Labor (Chair)
    • Public Highways
    • Railroads
    • Soldiers Welfare and Soldiers Home
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    term photo
    Click to view

    55th Legislative Session (1947-1948)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 27
    Elected: 11/5/1946
    Residence: Buffalo
    Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/1/1951
    Counties Represented: Wright
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Aviation
    • Game and Fish
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary
    • Labor (Chair)
    • Markets and Marketing
    • Public Highways
    • Railroads
    • Soldiers Welfare and Soldiers Home
    • Taxes and Tax Laws

    54th Legislative Session (1945-1946) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 27
    Elected: 11/3/1942
    Residence: Buffalo
    Term of Office: 1/5/1943 to 1/6/1947
    Counties Represented: Wright
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Game and Fish
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary
    • Labor (Chair)
    • Public Highways
    • Railroads
    • Soldiers Welfare and Soldiers Home
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Towns and Counties
    term photo
    Click to view

    53rd Legislative Session (1943-1944)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 27
    Elected: 11/3/1942
    Residence: Buffalo
    Term of Office: 1/5/1943 to 1/6/1947
    Counties Represented: Wright
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Game and Fish
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary
    • Labor (Chair)
    • Public Highways
    • Railroads
    • Soldiers Welfare and Soldiers Home
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Towns and Counties
    term photo
    Click to view

    52nd Legislative Session (1941-1942) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 27
    Elected: 11/8/1938
    Residence: Buffalo
    Term of Office: 1/3/1939 to 1/4/1943
    Counties Represented: Wright
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Crime and Crime Prevention
    • Game and Fish
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary
    • Railroads
    • Rural Credits and State Development
    • Soldiers Bonus and Soldiers Home
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    term photo
    Click to view

    51st Legislative Session (1939-1940)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 27
    Elected: 11/8/1938
    Residence: Buffalo
    Term of Office: 1/3/1939 to 1/4/1943
    Counties Represented: Wright
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Crime and Crime Prevention
    • Game and Fish
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary
    • Railroads
    • Rural Credits and State Development
    • Soldiers Bonus and Soldiers Home
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Towns and Counties
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    "Ex-Sen. Welch Dies in Buffalo (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, July 29, 1974.

    "Past State Lawmaker Welch Dies (Obituary)." Fergus Falls Daily Journal, July 29, 1974.

    "Thomas P. Welch." Typewritten Profile, Source Unknown, 1955? and 1957?


    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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