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    Frerichs, Donald L. "Don"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1981-82 (District 32B); House 1983-92 (District 32A); House 1993-96 (District 31A)

    Party when first elected:  Independent Republican

    Counties Served:  Dodge, Olmsted, Winona

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 1/3/1931
    Birth Place: Ocheyedan, Iowa
    Birth County:
    Birth Country:
    Date of Death: 6/27/2019
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Lutheran
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Don
    City of Residence (when first elected): Rochester
    Occupation (when first elected): Investment/Commercial Real Estate

    EDUCATION

    Worthington High School; Secondary; 1949
    Mankato State University; B.A.; Business Administration/Industrial Arts

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    State Board/Commission/Council: Mississippi River Parkway Commission; [Dates Unknown]
    Municipal Government: Rochester Township, Minnesota (Supevisor, 11 years); 19?? to 19??
    Military: United States Armed Forces (Korean War; Served in the Army 14 years); 195? to 19??

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Dianne Rickbeil (Married on June 15, 1951)
    Children: Four children: Craig, Scott, Randy, and Krista
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.

    Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1983-84.

    His funeral was July 6, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Rochester. He is buried at Oakwood Cemetery.

    Most recent term photo
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    Total Days Served: 5642

    SESSIONS SERVED

    79th Legislative Session (1995-1996)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1995
    Body: House
    District: 31A
    Elected: 11/8/1994
    Residence: Rochester
    Term of Office: 1/2/1995 to 1/5/1997
    Oath Date: 1/3/1995
    Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted
    Occupation: President, Bio-Conversion, Inc.
    Party: Independent Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Economic Development, Infrastructure and Regulation Finance
    • Economic Development, Infrastructure and Regulation Finance: Transportation Finance Division
    • Transportation and Transit
    • Transportation and Transit: Transportation Systems
    • Ways and Means
    term photo
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    78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1993
    Body: House
    District: 31A
    Elected: 11/3/1992
    Residence: Rochester
    Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/1/1995
    Oath Date: 1/5/1993
    Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted
    Occupation: President, Bio-Conversion, Inc.; Consultant, Business Development and Management Systems
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Economic Development, Infrastructure and Regulation Finance
    • Environment and Natural Resources
    • Transportation and Transit
    • Transportation and Transit: Transit
    • Ways and Means
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

    77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1991
    Body: House
    District: 32A
    Elected: 11/6/1990
    Residence: Rochester
    Term of Office: 1/7/1991 to 1/3/1993
    Oath Date: 1/8/1991
    Counties Represented: Olmsted, Winona
    Occupation: President, F.M. Enviro Systems, Inc.: Consultant in Business Development and Management Systems
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Economic Development, Infrastructure, and Regulation Division
    • Economic Development
    • Economic Development: International Trade and Technology Division
    • Economic Development: Review of Economic Development Strategies
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking Division
    • Ways and Means
    term photo
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    76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1989
    Body: House
    District: 32A
    Elected: 11/8/1988
    Residence: Rochester
    Term of Office: 1/2/1989 to 1/6/1991
    Oath Date: 1/3/1989
    Counties Represented: Olmsted, Winona
    Occupation: Vice President Corporate Development, Homeland Foods, Inc.
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Agriculture, Transportation and Semi-State Division
    • Economic Development
    • Economic Development: International Trade and Technology Division
    • Economic Development: Job Training and Retraining
    • Financial Institutions and Housing
    • Financial Institutions and Housing: Housing Division

    75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1987
    Body: House
    District: 32A
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Rochester
    Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/1/1989
    Oath Date: 1/6/1987
    Counties Represented: Olmsted, Winona
    Occupation: Assistant Director, Winona State University, Rochester Center
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Economic Development and Housing
    • Economic Development and Housing: Job Development and Training
    • Future and Technology
    • Future and Technology: Futurist
    • Future and Technology: Telecommunication
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Property Tax Division
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Safety

    74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1985
    Body: House
    District: 32A
    Elected: 11/6/1984
    Residence: Rochester
    Term of Office: 1/7/1985 to 1/4/1987
    Oath Date: 1/8/1985
    Counties Represented: Olmsted, Winona
    Occupation: Investment/Commercial Realtor
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Education Division
    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Commerce and Economic Development: Commerce and Regulation
    • Commerce and Economic Development: Small Business, Economic Development and Tourism
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Special Subcommittee on Department of Public Safety (Chair)
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader
    term photo
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    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1983
    Body: House
    District: 32A
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Rochester
    Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/6/1985
    Oath Date: 1/4/1983
    Counties Represented: Olmsted, Winona
    Occupation: Investment/Commercial Real Estate
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Education Division
    • Local and Urban Affairs
    • Local and Urban Affairs: Governmental Administration and Structures
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Commercial and Passenger Transportation
    • Transportation: Highway Safety

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1981
    Body: House
    District: 32B
    Elected: 7/15/1981
    Residence: Rochester
    Term of Office: 7/27/1981 to 1/2/1983 (Special Election)
    Oath Date: 7/27/1981
    Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted
    Occupation: Investment/Commercial Real Estate
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    Session Notes: He won the seat vacated by Don Friedrich. According to the Rochester Post-Bulletin, he was sworn in on Monday, July 27, 1981.

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About

    • "Donald Frerichs - Rochester." Rochester Post Bulletin, July 1, 2019.

    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.

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