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Benjamin "Ben" Boo

House 1983-92 (District 8B)

Party when first elected:  Independent Republican

Counties Served:  St. Louis

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 1/21/1925
Birth Place: Pine City, Minnesota
Birth County: Pine
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 12/1/2021
Gender: Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names: Ben
City of Residence (when first elected): Duluth
Occupation (when first elected): Legislator

EDUCATION

U.S. Army, Command and General Staff College (CGSC); Postsecondary;
University of Missouri; Attended College;
University of Minnesota; Attended College;

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Military: National Guard (during the Korean and Vietnam wars); [Dates Unknown]
Military: United States Army (Air Force); 1942 to 19??
County Government: St. Louis County (Purchasing Agent); 1958 to ?
Municipal Mayor: Duluth, Minnesota; 1967 to 1975
State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (Executive Director); 1975 to 1979
State Board/Commission/Council: Upper Great Lakes Regional Commission (Director); 02/1979 to 19??

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Mary
Children: Six children: Richard, Chris, Peter, Michael, Matt (sons) and Mary (daughter)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Total Days Served: 3336

SESSIONS SERVED

77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1991
Body: House
District: 08B
Elected: 11/6/1990
Residence: Duluth
Term of Office: 1/7/1991 to 1/3/1993
Oath Date: 1/8/1991
Counties Represented: St. Louis
Occupation: Legislator
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking Division
  • General Legislation, Veterans Affairs, and Gaming
  • General Legislation, Veterans Affairs, and Gaming: Elections Division
  • Health and Human Services
  • Health and Human Services: Social and Family Services
  • Redistricting
  • Regulated Industries
Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1989
Body: House
District: 08B
Elected: 11/8/1988
Residence: Duluth
Term of Office: 1/2/1989 to 1/6/1991
Oath Date: 1/3/1989
Counties Represented: St. Louis
Occupation: Legislator
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Financial Institutions and Housing
  • Financial Institutions and Housing: Banking
  • Financial Institutions and Housing: Housing Division
  • General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming
  • General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming: Elections Division
  • General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming: Veterans Affairs
  • Health and Human Services
  • Health and Human Services: Transitional Services
  • Regulated Industries

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1987
Body: House
District: 08B
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Duluth
Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/1/1989
Oath Date: 1/6/1987
Counties Represented: St. Louis
Occupation: Legislator
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Appropriations
  • Appropriations: Education Division
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance: Financial Institutions
  • General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming
  • General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming: Gaming
  • Higher Education

74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1985
Body: House
District: 08B
Elected: 11/6/1984
Residence: Duluth
Term of Office: 1/7/1985 to 1/4/1987
Oath Date: 1/8/1985
Counties Represented: St. Louis
Occupation: Legislator
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Appropriations
  • Appropriations: Education Division
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance
  • Health and Human Services
  • Health and Human Services: Health Care

73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1983
Body: House
District: 08B
Elected: 11/8/1983
Residence: Duluth
Term of Office: 11/17/1983 to 1/6/1985 (Special Election)
Oath Date: 11/17/1983
Counties Represented: St. Louis
Occupation: Legislator
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
Session Notes: He won the seat vacated by Tom Berkelman. He was sworn in on November 17, 1983 but the next session did not convene until March 6, 1984.

Articles & Books About

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.

Photographs

Portrait of Benjamin Boo.
Portrait of Benjamin Boo.