Kelly, William Nelson "Bill"
House 1971-72 (District 66B); House 1973-78 (District 2A)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Counties Served:
Norman, Polk, Red Lake
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
12/2/1939
Birth Place:
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Birth County:
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
7/31/2023
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Bill
City of Residence (when first elected):
East Grand Forks
Occupation (when first elected):
Teacher, East Grand Forks Senior High School
EDUCATION
Sacred Heart; Secondary;
Marquette University; Attended College;
University of North Dakota; College Graduate;
Attended Graduate School; Political Science
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
U.S. Executive Branch:
United States Peace Corps (Ethiopia);
1965 to 1967
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Janet Worth; Pat (married in 1994)
Children:
One child: Christopher
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
He grew up in East Grand Forks, Minnesota.
He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for House seat 66B in 1968.
He was chair of the House Tax Committee during the "Minnesota Miracle." "He co-authored the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) with Tom Berg and cast the deciding vote for gun-control legislation. He made a point of supporting rural as well as urban issues, advocating a vision of Minnesota as a unified state with equal opportunity for all." (Star Tribune Obituary).
He was of French and Irish ancestry (Star Tribune Obituary).
Body: House
District: 02A
Elected: 11/2/1976
Residence: East Grand Forks
Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/2/1979
Counties Represented:
Norman, Polk
Occupation: Legislator/Former Teacher, East Grand Forks Senior High School
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Local and Urban Affairs
-
Rules and Legislative Administration
-
Taxes (Chair)
Body: House
District: 02A
Elected: 11/5/1974
Residence: East Grand Forks
Term of Office: 1/7/1975 to 1/3/1977
Counties Represented:
Norman, Polk
Occupation: Teacher, East Grand Forks Senior High School
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Education
-
Local and Urban Affairs
-
Rules and Legislative Administration
-
Taxes (Chair)
Body: House
District: 02A
Elected: 11/7/1972
Residence: East Grand Forks
Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/6/1975
Counties Represented:
Norman, Polk
Occupation: Teacher, East Grand Forks Senior High School
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
Committees:
-
Education
-
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
-
Governmental Operations
-
Rules and Legislative Administration
-
Transportation
Body: House
District: 66B
Elected: 11/3/1970
Residence: East Grand Forks
Term of Office: 1/5/1971 to 1/1/1973
Counties Represented:
Polk, Red Lake
Occupation: Teacher, East Grand Forks Senior High School
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
-
Agriculture
-
Education
-
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
-
Governmental Operations
-
Transportation