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Dirlam, Aubrey W. "A.W."

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 1941-62 (District 14); House 1963-66 (District 17); House 1967-72 (District 17A); House 1973-74 (District 21B)

Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election

Counties Served: Brown, Kandiyohi, Redwood, Renville, Yellow Medicine

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 10/20/1913

Birth Place: Panora, Iowa

Birth County:

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death: 6/3/1995

Gender: Male

Religion: United Methodist

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names: A.W.

City of Residence (when first elected): Redwood Falls

Occupation (when first elected): Farmer/Family Meat and Locker Business

EDUCATION

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

School Board/Administration: Redwood Falls, Minnesota (School Board Member); 19?? to 19??

State Legislative Staff: Minnesota State Capitol (Doorman and Janitor); 1937 to 19??

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Board of Residential Utility Consumers, Department of Commerce; 01/05/1981 to 01/07/1985 [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Single (when first elected); Hazelle (first listed in 1943)
Children: Two children: Gordon, and Kenneth (sons)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1938 election.

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

He moved to Redwood Falls, Minnesota in 1919.

He died of Alzheimer's disease at the Wood Dale Nursing Home in Redwood Falls, Minnesota and was buried in Redwood Falls Cemetery.

Religion provided by his obituary and Minneapolis Star, Between November 1956-January 1957.

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Total Days Served: 12418

SESSIONS SERVED

68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/2/1973

Body: House

District: 21B

Elected: 11/7/1972

Residence: Redwood Falls

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

Counties Represented: Kandiyohi, Redwood, Renville, Yellow Medicine

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Education
Governmental Operations
Rules and Legislative Administration
Taxes

Leadership Position: Minority Leader

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67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1971

Body: House

District: 17A

Elected: 11/3/1970

Residence: Redwood Falls

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

Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Rules and Legislative Administration

Leadership Position: Speaker of the House

66th Legislative Session (1969-1970)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1969

Body: House

District: 17A

Elected: 11/5/1968

Residence: Redwood Falls

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

Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood

Occupation: Farmer, Corn and Soybeans, 240 Acres

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Legislative Administration and Rules (Chair)

Leadership Position: Majority Leader

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65th Legislative Session (1967-1968)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1967

Body: House

District: 17A

Elected: 11/8/1966

Residence: Redwood Falls

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

Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Rules (Chair)

Leadership Position: Majority Leader

64th Legislative Session (1965-1966)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1965

Body: House

District: 17

Elected: 11/3/1964

Residence: Redwood Falls

Term of Office: 1/4/1965 to 1/1/1967
Oath Date: 1/5/1965

Counties Represented: Redwood

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Rules (Chair)

Leadership Position: Majority Leader

63rd Legislative Session (1963-1964)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/1963

Body: House

District: 17

Elected: 11/6/1962

Residence: Redwood Falls

Term of Office: 1/7/1963 to 1/3/1965
Oath Date: 1/8/1963

Counties Represented: Redwood

Occupation: Grain and Livestock Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Rules (Chair)

Leadership Position: Majority Leader

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62nd Legislative Session (1961-1962)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1961

Body: House

District: 14

Elected: 11/8/1960

Residence: Redwood Falls

Term of Office: 1/2/1961 to 1/6/1963
Oath Date: 1/3/1961

Counties Represented: Redwood

Occupation: Grain and Livestock Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Agriculture
Education
Game and Fish
Highways
Taxes

61st Legislative Session (1959-1960)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/1959

Body: House

District: 14

Elected: 11/4/1958

Residence: Redwood Falls

Term of Office: 1/5/1959 to 1/1/1961
Oath Date: 1/6/1959

Counties Represented: Redwood

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Agriculture
Commercial Transportation and Communications
Education
Game and Fish
Highways
Taxes

60th Legislative Session (1957-1958)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/1957

Body: House

District: 14

Elected: 11/6/1956

Residence: Redwood Falls

Term of Office: 1/7/1957 to 1/4/1959
Oath Date: 1/8/1957

Counties Represented: Redwood

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Agriculture
Commercial Transportation and Communications
Education
Game and Fish
Highways
Taxes

Leadership Position: Minority Leader

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59th Legislative Session (1955-1956)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/1955

Body: House

District: 14

Elected: 11/2/1954

Residence: Redwood Falls

Term of Office: 1/3/1955 to 1/6/1957
Oath Date: 1/4/1955

Counties Represented: Redwood

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Agriculture
Highways
Public Institutions
Taxes
University

58th Legislative Session (1953-1954)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/1953

Body: House

District: 14

Elected: 11/5/1952

Residence: Redwood Falls

Term of Office: 1/5/1953 to 1/2/1955
Oath Date: 1/6/1953

Counties Represented: Redwood

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Agriculture (Chair)
Civil Administration
General Legislation
Highways
Rules
Taxes

57th Legislative Session (1951-1952)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/2/1951

Body: House

District: 14

Elected: 11/7/1950

Residence: Redwood Falls

Term of Office: 1/1/1951 to 1/4/1953
Oath Date: 1/2/1951

Counties Represented: Redwood

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Agriculture (Chair)
General Legislation
Highways
Labor
Rules
Taxes

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56th Legislative Session (1949-1950)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/1949

Body: House

District: 14

Elected: 11/2/1948

Residence: Redwood Falls

Term of Office: 1/3/1949 to 12/31/1950
Oath Date: 1/4/1949

Counties Represented: Redwood

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Agriculture (Chair)
Elections
Game and Fish
General Legislation
Highways

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55th Legislative Session (1947-1948)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1947

Body: House

District: 14

Elected: 11/5/1946

Residence: Redwood Falls

Term of Office: 1/6/1947 to 1/2/1949
Oath Date: 1/7/1947

Counties Represented: Redwood

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Agriculture
Aircraft and Airways
Conservation
General Legislation
Highways

54th Legislative Session (1945-1946)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/2/1945

Body: House

District: 14

Elected: 11/7/1944

Residence: Redwood Falls

Term of Office: 1/1/1945 to 1/5/1947
Oath Date: 1/2/1945

Counties Represented: Redwood

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Aviation
Commerce
Cooperatives
Game and Fish
Towns and Counties

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53rd Legislative Session (1943-1944)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1943

Body: House

District: 14

Elected: 11/3/1942

Residence: Redwood Falls

Term of Office: 1/4/1943 to 12/31/1944
Oath Date: 1/5/1943

Counties Represented: Redwood

Occupation: Farmer/Partner in Locker Plant Concern

Party: Nonpartisan Election

Committees:

Agriculture
Commerce
Game and Fish
Public Domain
Towns and Counties

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52nd Legislative Session (1941-1942)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1941

Body: House

District: 14

Elected: 11/5/1940

Residence: Redwood Falls

Term of Office: 1/6/1941 to 1/3/1943
Oath Date: 1/7/1941

Counties Represented: Redwood

Occupation: Farmer/Family Meat and Locker Business

Party: Nonpartisan Election

Committees:

Agriculture
Commerce, Manufacture and Retail Trade
Public Domain
State Prison
Towns and Counties

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OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About

"Aubrey Dirlam, Longtime Minnesota Lawmaker." St. Paul Pioneer Press, June 5, 1995.
Chanen, David. "Retired Legislator Aubrey Dirlam Dies at 81." Star Tribune, June 5, 1995, p. 7B.
O"Keefe, Robert J. "Dirlam Ends Long Legislative Career." St. Paul Pioneer Press, June 5, 1974.
"Six Members Will Retire, Aubrey Dirlam." Inside the Interim, Minnesota House of Representatives, June 1974. - This article has a typo, it states he was Minority Leader in 1947, it was actually 1957.
O"Keefe, Robert J. "Dirlam Ponders Retirement." St. Paul Pioneer Press, May 14, 1974.
"'Gosh, They Were Good' an 'Elder Statesman' Recalls Some 34 Years of Legislating." Fairmont Sentinel, January 29, 1974.
"A Few Men Will Play Key House Roles." Minneapolis Tribune, December 27, 1970.
Montgomery, Jerry. "Rep. Aubrey Dirlam." St. Paul Pioneer Press, January 5, 1969, p. 1, 4.
"Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep.Aubrey Dirlam." Minneapolis Star, Between November 1956-January 1957.

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.

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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