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Brinkman, Bernard J. "Bernie, Brinky, B.J."

House 1965-66 (District 26); House 1967-72 (District 26A); House 1973-86 (District 16B)

Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

Counties Served:  Meeker, Morrison, Stearns, Wright

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 6/8/1926
Birth Place: Farming, Minnesota
Birth County: Stearns
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 4/24/2006
Gender: Male
Religion: Catholic
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names: Bernie, Brinky, B.J.
City of Residence (when first elected): Richmond
Occupation (when first elected): Businessman; Owner and Operator, Brinky's Gas Station and Liquor Store/Former Employee, Great Northern Railway/Former Farmer

EDUCATION

Farming Grade School; Elementary School;
Albany High School; Secondary;

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

School Board/Administration: Richmond, Minnesota (School Board, Chair); 19?? to 19??
Military: United States Navy (World War II, Panama Canal, U.S.S. Plunkett); 1944 to 1946

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Vi Schouviller
Children: Five children: Gail (daughter); Wayne, Gary, Allen, and Dave (sons)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

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

He died of a heart attack in Paynesville, Minnesota. His funeral was held at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Richmond, Minnesota.

Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1979-80, the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975 and obituary.

Total Days Served: 8036

SESSIONS SERVED

74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 16B
Elected: 11/6/1984
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/8/1985 to 1/5/1987
Counties Represented: Morrison, Stearns, Wright
Occupation: Retail Merchant
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Agriculture: Rural Economy
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance
  • Taxes
  • Taxes: Sales Tax

73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 16B
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/7/1985
Counties Represented: Morrison, Stearns, Wright
Occupation: Retail Merchant
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Agriculture: Dairy and Livestock
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance (Chair)
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking
  • Taxes
  • Taxes: Tax Laws Division
  • Taxes: Tax Laws Division: Property Tax System Subcommittee

72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 16B
Elected: 11/4/1980
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
Counties Represented: Meeker, Stearns
Occupation: Retail Merchant
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Agriculture: Agriculture Products and Marketing
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance (Chair)
  • Rules and Legislative Administration
  • Taxes
  • Taxes: Revenue Division

71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 16B
Elected: 11/7/1978
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/3/1979 to 1/5/1981
Counties Represented: Meeker, Stearns
Occupation: Retail Merchant/Businessman; Owner and Operator, Brinky's
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Agriculture: Agriculture Products and Marketing
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance (Chair)
  • Taxes
  • Taxes: Division I - Income and Sales Tax Division

70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 16B
Elected: 11/2/1976
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/2/1979
Counties Represented: Meeker, Stearns
Occupation: Retail Merchant; Owner and Operator, Brinky's/Former Employee, Great Northern Railway
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance (Chair)
  • Rules and Legislative Administration
  • Taxes

69th Legislative Session (1975-1976)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 16B
Elected: 11/5/1974
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/7/1975 to 1/3/1977
Counties Represented: Meeker, Stearns
Occupation: Businessman
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance (Chair)
  • Rules and Legislative Administration
  • Taxes

68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 16B
Elected: 11/7/1972
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/6/1975
Counties Represented: Meeker, Stearns
Occupation: Businessman
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance (Chair)
  • Rules and Legislative Administration
  • Taxes

67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 26A
Elected: 11/3/1970
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/5/1971 to 1/1/1973
Counties Represented: Stearns
Occupation: Businessman
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Financial Institutions
  • Insurance
  • Labor Relations
  • Regulated Industries

66th Legislative Session (1969-1970)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 26A
Elected: 11/5/1968
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/7/1969 to 1/4/1971
Counties Represented: Stearns
Occupation: Businessman, Owner and Operator, Brinky's
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Employee Compensation and Retirements
  • Financial Institutions and Securities
  • Insurance
  • Regulated Industries and Utilities

65th Legislative Session (1967-1968)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 26A
Elected: 11/8/1966
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/3/1967 to 1/6/1969
Counties Represented: Stearns
Occupation: Businessman; Owner and Operator, Brinky's/Former Employee, Great Northern Railway
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Dairy Products and Livestock
  • Employees Compensation
  • Forestry and Public Domain
  • Law Enforcement and Liquor Control
  • Motor Vehicles

64th Legislative Session (1965-1966)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 26
Elected: 11/3/1964
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/5/1965 to 1/2/1967
Counties Represented: Stearns
Occupation: Businessman; Owner and Operator, Brinky's Gas Station and Liquor Store/Former Employee, Great Northern Railway/Former Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Cooperatives
  • Dairy Products and Livestock
  • Law Enforcement and Juvenile Delinquency
  • Motor Vehicles
Articles & Books About
Cohen, Ben. "Bernard Brinkman, Longtime Stearns County Legislator (Obituary)." Star Tribune, May 2, 2006.

Schumacher, Lawrence. "Leaders Remember Brinkman's Work (Obituary). St. Cloud Times, April 25, 2006. p. 1B.

McAllister, Bill. "'Very Good Man' Leaves Legislature." St. Cloud Times, July 26, 1986.


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.