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    Frederick, Mel

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    Senate 1971-72 (District 3); Senate 1973-82 (District 32); Senate 1983-90 (District 30)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

    Counties Served:  Dodge, Freeborn, Mower, Olmsted, Steele, Waseca

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 11/24/1929
    Birth Place: West Concord, Minnesota
    Birth County:
    Birth Country:
    Date of Death: 8/19/2019
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): West Concord
    Occupation (when first elected): Super Market Owner

    EDUCATION

    West Concord High School; Secondary; 1947
    Mankato State College; Attended College;

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Military: United States Armed Forces (Korean War; 18 months); 195? to 19??

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Donna Christopherson (married on June 3, 1956)
    Children: Three children: Mitch, Mike, and Debbie
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    Special Legislative Concerns: taxes, transportation, commerce.

    He was a member of the Republican Party.

    A memorial service was held on Friday, September 6, 2019 at United Methodist Church, West Concord, Minnesota. He is buried at Riverside Cemetery in Dodge Center, Minnesota.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 7308

    SESSIONS SERVED

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

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 30
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Owatonna
    Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
    Counties Represented: Dodge, Freeborn, Mower, Steele, Waseca
    Occupation: Vice President, Dain Bosworth, Inc.
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Commerce
    • Commerce: Insurance
    • Commerce: Regulated Industries
    • Finance
    • Finance: Education Division
    • Rules and Administration
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: General Policy, Rural and Commercial
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader
    Leadership Position: Minority Whip
    Leadership Position: Minority Pro Tem

    75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 30
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Owatonna
    Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
    Counties Represented: Dodge, Freeborn, Mower, Steele, Waseca
    Occupation: Vice President, Dain Bosworth, Inc.
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Commerce
    • Commerce: Insurance
    • Commerce: Regulated Industries
    • Rules and Administration
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: General Policy and Rural and Commercial
    Leadership Position: Minority Whip
    Leadership Position: Minority Pro Tem
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

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

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 30
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Owatonna
    Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
    Counties Represented: Dodge, Freeborn, Mower, Steele, Waseca
    Occupation: Associate Vice President/Investment Officer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Employment
    • Employment: Workers Compensation
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Bill Scheduling
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: General Policy
    term photo
    Click to view

    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 30
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Owatonna
    Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
    Counties Represented: Dodge, Freeborn, Mower, Steele, Waseca
    Occupation: Associate Vice President/Investment Officer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Employment
    • Employment: Workers' Compensation
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Bill Scheduling
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: General Policy

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 32
    Elected: 11/4/1980
    Residence: West Concord
    Term of Office: 1/5/1981 to 1/2/1983
    Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted, Steele
    Occupation: Stockbroker; Registered Representative, Dain Bosworth Inc./Former Supermarket Owner, 21 Years
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Employment
    • Employment: Economic Development
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Bill Scheduling
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Government Development Finance Tax
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: General Policy
    Leadership Position: Minority Whip
    term photo
    Click to view

    71st Legislative Session (1979-1980) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 32
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: West Concord
    Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
    Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted, Steele
    Occupation: Stockbroker, Registered Representative; Dain, Kalman, and Quail, Inc.
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Employment
    • Employment: Economic Development
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Bill Scheduling
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Highways and Bridges
    • Transportation: Rural and Commercial Transportation
    • Transportation: Transportation Policy
    Leadership Position: Minority Whip

    70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 32
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: West Concord
    Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
    Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted, Steele
    Occupation: Stockbroker, Registered Representative; Dain, Kalman and Quail, Inc./Former Supermarket Owner
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Employment
    • Employment: Economic Development
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Bill Scheduling
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Highways and Bridges
    Leadership Position: Minority Whip
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    69th Legislative Session (1975-1976) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 32
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: West Concord
    Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/2/1977
    Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted, Steele
    Occupation: Registered Representative; Dain Kalman & Quail, Inc./Former Supermarket Owner
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Independent Republican Caucus
    Committees:
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Transportation and General Legislation
    • Transportation and General Legislation: Highways
    Leadership Position: Minority Whip
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

    68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 32
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: West Concord
    Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/2/1977
    Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted, Steele
    Occupation: Super Market Owner
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Local Government
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Transportation and General Legislation
    • Transportation and General Legislation: Highways
    Leadership Position: Minority Whip
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 03
    Elected: 11/3/1970
    Residence: West Concord
    Term of Office: 1/4/1971 to 12/31/1972
    Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted, Steele
    Occupation: Super Market Owner
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • General Legislation
    • Health and Welfare
    • Higher Education
    • Pensions and Retirement
    • Public Highways

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About

    • "Melvin L. Frederick -- Rochester." Rochester Post Bulletin, August 24, 2019.
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    Archive Collections

    Photographs

    Senator John Bernhagen and Senator Mel Frederick listen to testimony during a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota. 1/1/1987. Senator John Bernhagen and Senator Mel Frederick listen to testimony during a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota. Photo credit:
    Senator John Marty, Senator Howard Knutson, and Senator Mel Frederick confer in the Senate Chamber, St. Paul, Minnesota. 1/1/1987. Senator John Marty, Senator Howard Knutson, and Senator Mel Frederick confer in the Senate Chamber, St. Paul, Minnesota. Photo credit:
    Senator Mel Frederick speaks during a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota. 1/1/1985. Senator Mel Frederick speaks during a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota. Photo credit:
    Governor Rudy Perpich delivers his State of the State Address in the House of Representatives Chamber, St. Paul, Minnesota. 1/1/1983. Governor Rudy Perpich delivers his State of the State Address in the House of Representatives Chamber, St. Paul, Minnesota. Photo credit:
    Senator John Bernhagen and Senator Mel Frederick listen to testimony during a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota. 1/1/1981. Senator John Bernhagen and Senator Mel Frederick listen to testimony during a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota. Photo credit:
    Senator Nick Coleman, Senator Doug Johnson, and others confer in the Governor's reception room, St. Paul, Minnesota. 1/1/1977. Senator Nick Coleman, Senator Doug Johnson, and others confer in the Governor's reception room, St. Paul, Minnesota. Photo credit:


    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.

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