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    Diessner, Ardell William "Bill, A.W."

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    Senate 1983-90 (District 56)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Ramsey, Washington

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 7/28/1923
    Birth Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota
    Birth County: Hennepin
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 3/27/2021
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Unitarian
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Bill, A.W.
    City of Residence (when first elected): Afton
    Occupation (when first elected): Doctor of Medicine

    EDUCATION

    Waconia Public Schools; Elementary School;
    Waconia High School; Secondary; Valedictorian, Graduate, 1941
    University of Minnesota; College Graduate; PreMedicine
    University of Minnesota; Medical Degree; Psychiatry Residency, 3 years; around 1966-1969
    University of Michigan; Fellowship; Kellogg Fellowship, Special 2 Year Program for Family Practice, 1950
    University of Minnesota, Medical School; Medical Degree; Bachelor of Medicine, December 1946
    University of Minnesota, Medical School; M.D.; 6 months of Graduate School and Interned at Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, Minnesota; April 1948

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Military: United States Army, 1st M.A.S.H. Hospital (served in Fort Riley, Kansas and Korea, Captain); 01/1951 to 1952

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Irene J. (married on May 10, 1944, divorced in 1961; Dorothy Schmidt (married on Feb. 14, 1962, she died in 1999); Sharon Harmon (married on Dec. 10, 1999)
    Children: Nine children: Cindy, Karen, Anne, Sally, and Debra (daughters with Irene); Sheila, Stacy, and Darcy, and Mark (stepchildren, Dorothy's children)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    Special Legislative Concerns: economics, environment, health, education.

    He was raised in Waconia, Minnesota. He lived in Redwood Falls, Minnesota before he moved to Afton, Minnesota in January 1970. He moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas around 2003.

    His first and middle names, cities of residence when not in office, educational details, military service dates, and family details were provided by his daughter.

    Most recent term photo
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    Total Days Served: 2926

    SESSIONS SERVED

    76th Legislative Session (1989-1990) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1989
    Body: Senate
    District: 56
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Afton
    Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
    Oath Date: 1/6/1987
    Counties Represented: Ramsey, Washington
    Occupation: Doctor of Medicine
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Employment
    • General Legislation and Public Gaming
    • Health and Human Services
    • Health and Human Services: Health and Health Financing
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Sales Tax Division
    • Veterans and Military Affairs

    75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1987
    Body: Senate
    District: 56
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Afton
    Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
    Oath Date: 1/6/1987
    Counties Represented: Ramsey, Washington
    Occupation: Doctor of Medicine, Physician
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Employment
    • Employment: Injured Workers' Compensation (Chair)
    • General Legislation and Public Gaming
    • Health and Human Services
    • Health and Human Services: Health and Health Financing
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Sales Tax
    • Veterans
    term photo
    Click to view

    74th Legislative Session (1985-1986) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1985
    Body: Senate
    District: 56
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Afton
    Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
    Oath Date: 1/4/1983
    Counties Represented: Ramsey, Washington
    Occupation: Doctor of Medicine
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Employment
    • Employment: Workers Compensation
    • Health and Human Services
    • Health and Human Services: Income Maintenance
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Rural and Commercial
    • Veterans and General Legislation
    • Veterans and General Legislation: General Legislation
    • Veterans and General Legislation: Veterans Affairs
    term photo
    Click to view

    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1983
    Body: Senate
    District: 56
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Afton
    Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
    Oath Date: 1/4/1983
    Counties Represented: Ramsey, Washington
    Occupation: Doctor of Medicine
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Employment
    • Employment: Workers' Compensation
    • Health and Human Services
    • Health and Human Services: Income Maintenance
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Rural and Commercial
    • Veterans and General Legislation
    • Veterans and General Legislation: Veterans' Affairs

    OTHER INFORMATION

    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

    Senator Bill Diessner listens in committee, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1986. Photo credit: This image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.
    Governor Rudy Perpich delivers his State of the State Address in the House of Representatives Chamber, St. Paul, Minnesota. 1/5/1983. Photo credit: This image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.

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