Gearty, Edward J. "Ed"
House 1963-70 (District 39); Senate 1971-72 (District 39); Senate 1973-80 (District 54)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Counties Served:
Hennepin
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
3/17/1923
Birth Place:
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Birth County:
Hennepin
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
9/25/2009
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Catholic
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Ed
City of Residence (when first elected):
Minneapolis
Occupation (when first elected):
Lawyer, Private Practice
EDUCATION
De La Salle High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1941
St. Thomas College; B.A.; 1952
Georgetown University, Law School, Washington D.C.; LL.B.;
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Military:
United States Navy (World War II, Pacific Theatre, Aviation Machinist's Mate);
1942 to 1948
State Attorney General Staff:
Minnesota Office of the Attorney General (Assistant Attorney General);
1956 to 1958
Municipal Board/Commission:
Minneapolis, Minnesota (City Park Board Commissioner);
1959 to 1962
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Single (when first elected); Lorraine Breher (first listed in 1967)
Children:
One child: Ann "Annie" Therese (daughter)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
Special Legislative Concerns: government.
He was of Irish ancestry.
He had a twin brother.
He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. (Obituary)
He died of heart failure on the way to a hospital. His funeral was held at the Catholic Church of St. Austin in North Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was buried at Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
He was a lifetime member of Ascension Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975.
Body:
Senate
District:
54
Elected:
11/2/1976
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/4/1977 to 1/5/1981
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney, Private Practice
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Elections (Chair)
-
General Legislation and Administrative Rules
-
General Legislation and Administrative Rules: Arts
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Bill Scheduling
-
Rules and Administration: Committees
-
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
-
Rules and Administration: Personnel
-
Rules and Administration: Referrals (Rule 35) (Chair)
-
Transportation
-
Transportation: Rural and Commercial Transportation
-
Transportation: Transit
-
Veterans' Affairs
Leadership Position:
President of the Senate
Body:
Senate
District:
54
Elected:
11/2/1976
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/4/1977 to 1/5/1981
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney, Private Practice
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Elections (Chair)
-
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Bill Scheduling
-
Rules and Administration: Committees
-
Rules and Administration: Late Bills (Joint Rule 2.03)
-
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
-
Rules and Administration: Referral (Rule 35) (Chair)
-
Transportation
Leadership Position:
President of the Senate
Body:
Senate
District:
54
Elected:
11/7/1972
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/2/1973 to 1/3/1977
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Lawyer, Private Practice
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
Committees:
-
Governmental Operations (Chair)
-
Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
-
Metropolitan and Urban Affairs: Operations and Structure
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Staffing (Chair)
-
Taxes and Tax Laws
Body:
Senate
District:
54
Elected:
11/7/1972
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/2/1973 to 1/3/1977
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Lawyer, Private Practice
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
Committees:
-
Governmental Operations (Chair)
-
Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
-
Metropolitan and Urban Affairs: Metropolitan Transportation (Chair)
-
Rules and Administration
-
Taxes and Tax Laws
Body:
Senate
District:
39
Elected:
11/3/1970
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/5/1971 to 1/1/1973
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Lawyer, Private Practice
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
-
Civil Administration
-
Judiciary
-
Labor Relations
-
Public Highways
-
Urban Affairs
Elected:
11/5/1968
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/7/1969 to 1/4/1971
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Lawyer, Private Practice
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Commerce and Economic Development
-
Insurance
-
Judiciary
-
Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
Elected:
11/8/1966
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/3/1967 to 1/6/1969
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Lawyer, Private Practice
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Cities of the First Class
-
Insurance and Securities
-
Judiciary
-
Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
Elected:
11/3/1964
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/5/1965 to 1/2/1967
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Lawyer, Private Practice
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
-
Commerce
-
Insurance
-
Judiciary
-
State and Junior Colleges
Elected:
11/6/1962
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/8/1963 to 1/4/1965
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Lawyer, Private Practice
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
-
Commerce, Manufacturing and Retail Trade
-
Forestry and Public Domain
-
Insurance
-
Judiciary
-
State and Junior Colleges
Articles & Books About
-
Harlow, Tim. "Edward Gearty: Admired on Both Sides of Aisle." Minneapolis Star Tribune, September 30, 2009, p. B6.
-
Salisbury, Bill. "Edward Gearty, "Last Gentleman in Minnesota Senate," Dies at 86." St. Paul Pioneer Press, September 28, 2009.
-
"Gearty, Edward J. (Obituary). Minneapolis Star Tribune, September 27, 2009, p. B9.
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.
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.