Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature
Skip Navigation Links
  • LRL Home
    • >
  • Legislators Past & Present
    • >
  • Member Record
    • Legislators Past & Present Home

    Sabo, Martin Olav

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1961-62 (District 31); House 1963-72 (District 42); House 1973-78 (District 57B)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

    Counties Served:  Hennepin

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 2/28/1938
    Birth Place: Crosby, North Dakota
    Birth County: Divide
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 3/13/2016
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Lutheran
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Minneapolis
    Occupation (when first elected): Graduate Student, University of Minnesota

    EDUCATION

    Alkabo High School, North Dakota; Secondary; Graduate, 1955
    Augsburg College; B.A.; History (Major), Political Science (Minor), Cum Laude, 1959
    University of Minnesota; Attended Graduate School; 1960
    Rutgers University, Eagleton Institute of Politics, New Jersey; Attended Graduate School; 1972

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    U.S. Executive Branch: National Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations; [Dates Unknown] [Appointed]
    U.S. Representative: 5th Congressional District, Minnesota; 01/03/1979 to 01/03/2007 [Elected]
    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Ballpark Authority (Appointed by Governor Mark Dayton); 03/2011 to 20?? [Appointed]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Sylvia
    Children: Two children: Julie and Karin (daughters)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    Julie Ann Sabo  - Daughter

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was of Norwegian ancestry.

    He came to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1955.

    He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

    He served as President of the National Conference of State Legislatures and President of the National Legislative Conference. (Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress)

    He was appointed Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit on December 5, 2006, for his outstanding work for Norwegian-American relations over many years.

    He was the youngest legislator in the 62nd Legislative Session (Minneapolis Star, 1960).

    Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 6574

    SESSIONS SERVED

    70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 57B
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/2/1979
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Legislator
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Taxes
    Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
    term photo
    Click to view

    69th Legislative Session (1975-1976)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 57B
    Elected: 11/5/1974
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/7/1975 to 1/3/1977
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: State Representative
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Taxes
    Leadership Position: Speaker of the House

    68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 57B
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/6/1975
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Life Insurance Salesman, Aetna life Ins. Co.
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
    Committees:
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Taxes
    Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
    term photo
    Click to view

    67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 42
    Elected: 11/3/1970
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/5/1971 to 1/1/1973
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Life Insurance Salesman, Aetna Life Ins. Co.
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Health, Welfare and Corrections
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
    • Reapportionment and Elections
    • Taxes
    Leadership Position: Minority Leader

    66th Legislative Session (1969-1970)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 42
    Elected: 11/5/1968
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/7/1969 to 1/4/1971
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Life Insurance Salesman, Aetna Life Insurance Co.
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Elections and Reapportionment
    • Health and Welfare
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
    • Taxes
    Leadership Position: Minority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    65th Legislative Session (1967-1968)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 42
    Elected: 11/8/1966
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/3/1967 to 1/6/1969
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Life Insurance Salesman, Aetna Life Insurance Co.
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Health and Welfare
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
    • Recreation and Water Resources
    • Taxes

    64th Legislative Session (1965-1966)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 42
    Elected: 11/3/1964
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/5/1965 to 1/2/1967
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Life Insurance Salesman, Aetna Life Insurance Co.
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Health and Welfare
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
    • Motor Vehicles
    • Recreation and Water Resources
    • University

    63rd Legislative Session (1963-1964)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 42
    Elected: 11/6/1962
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/4/1965
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Graduate Student, University of Minnesota
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • General Legislation
    • Motor Vehicles
    • Recreation and Water Resources
    • University
    • Veterans and Military Affairs
    term photo
    Click to view

    62nd Legislative Session (1961-1962)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 31
    Elected: 11/8/1960
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/3/1961 to 1/7/1963
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Graduate Student, University of Minnesota
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Commercial Transportation and Communications
    • Elections
    • State Institutions
    • University
    • Welfare

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    Sawyer, Liz. "'Quiet Giant' Sabo Remembered." Star Tribune, March 20, 2016.

    "Sabo Gave His All to Strengthen Democracy." Star Tribune, March 15, 2016.

    "Martin Sabo, 78, Longtime Minnesota Politician." The New York Times, March 14, 2016, p. A24.

    Grow, Doug. "Longtime DFLer Martin Sabo dies at 78." MinnPost, March 14, 2016.

    Salisbury, Bill. "Martin Olav Sabo, Longtime Minnesota Representative, has Died." Pioneer Press, March 14, 2016.

    Walsh, Paul. "State Loses a Legislative Giant." Star Tribune, March 14, 2016.

    Sturdevant, Lori. "Lessons Learned: the Longtime Fifth District Congressman Says He Has No Regrets About Leaving Office." Star Tribune, December 3, 2006.

    Sabo, Martin Olav. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.


    Archive Collections
    Martin Sabo Legislative and Congressional Papers, 1966-1996 - Available in the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections
    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.

    Legislators Past & Present Home