Hansen, Melvin E. "Mel"
Senate 1963-72 (District 34); Senate 1973-76 (District 61)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Counties Served:
Hennepin
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
9/20/1915
Birth Place:
Russell, Minnesota
Birth County:
Lyon
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
8/29/1994
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Lutheran
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Mel
City of Residence (when first elected):
Minneapolis
Occupation (when first elected):
Manager, Careers Employment
EDUCATION
Russell High School; Secondary; Graduate
University of Minnesota; B.A.; Economics, 1940
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota Governor's Commission for Employment of Handicapped, Employers Committee;
19?? to 19??
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota Governor's Crime Commission, Information Systems Committee;
19?? to 19??
Military:
United States Navy (World War II, European Theatre, Battleship);
1944 to 1946
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Ethel Long (married in 1937, she died in 1984)
Children:
Three children: Kerry (son); Sharon, and Judith (daughters)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
"Hansen was an Independent-Republican..." (Star Tribune Obituary, August 31, 1994)
He died at the Martin Luther Manor in Bloomington, Minnesota. His funeral was held at St. Peder's Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
He was a member of St. Peder's Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975.
Body:
Senate
District:
61
Elected:
11/7/1972
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/1/1973 to 1/2/1977
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
President, Careers, Inc.; Personnel Counselling and Placement
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Independent Republican Caucus
Committees:
-
Finance
-
Finance: Education
-
Finance: State Departments II
-
Governmental Operations
-
Governmental Operations: Pensions and Retirement
-
Transportation and General Legislation
-
Transportation and General Legislation: Elections
Session Notes:
His margin of victory over Wesley J. Skoglund was only 32 votes so a recount occurred. After the recount he was declared the winner by 28 votes.
Body:
Senate
District:
61
Elected:
11/7/1972
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/1/1973 to 1/2/1977
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
President, Careers, Inc.; Personnel Counselling and Placement
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Party Notes: "Hansen was an Independent-Republican..." (Star Tribune Obituary, August 31, 1994)
Committees:
-
Finance
-
Finance: Education
-
Finance: Natural Resources, Highways and Semi-State
-
Governmental Operations
-
Governmental Operations: Pensions and Retirement
-
Transportation and General Legislation
-
Transportation and General Legislation: Elections
Session Notes:
His margin of victory over Wesley J. Skoglund was only 32 votes so a recount occurred. After the recount he was declared the winner by 28 votes.
Body:
Senate
District:
34
Elected:
11/3/1970
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/4/1971 to 12/31/1972
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
President, Careers, Inc.; Personnel Counselling and Placement
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Party Notes: "Hansen was an Independent-Republican..." (Star Tribune Obituary, August 31, 1994)
Committees:
-
Civil Administration
-
Education
-
Elections and Reapportionment
-
Finance
-
General Legislation
-
Pensions and Retirement (Chair)
-
Rules and Administration
Body:
Senate
District:
34
Elected:
11/8/1966
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/2/1967 to 1/3/1971
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
President, Careers, Inc.; Personnel Placement and Counselling
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Party Notes: "Hansen was an Independent-Republican..." (Star Tribune Obituary, August 31, 1994)
Committees:
-
Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs
-
Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs: Pensions and Retirement Division (Chair)
-
Education
-
Elections and Reapportionment
-
Finance
-
General Legislation
Body:
Senate
District:
34
Elected:
11/8/1966
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/2/1967 to 1/3/1971
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
President, Careers Inc.; Personnel Placement and Recruiting
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Party Notes: "Hansen was an Independent-Republican..." (Star Tribune Obituary, August 31, 1994)
Committees:
-
Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs
-
Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs: Pensions and Retirement Division (Chair)
-
Education
-
Election and Reapportionment
-
Finance
-
General Legislation
Body:
Senate
District:
34
Elected:
11/6/1962
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/7/1963 to 1/1/1967
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Co-owner, Career's Inc.; Personnel Placement and Recruiting
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Party Notes: "Hansen was an Independent-Republican..." (Star Tribune Obituary, August 31, 1994)
Committees:
-
Cities of the First Class
-
Education
-
Elections and Reapportionment
-
General Legislation
-
Municipal Affairs
Body:
Senate
District:
34
Elected:
11/6/1962
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/7/1963 to 1/1/1967
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Manager, Careers Employment
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Party Notes: "Hansen was an Independent-Republican..." (Star Tribune Obituary, August 31, 1994)
Committees:
-
Cities of the First Class
-
Education
-
Elections and Reapportionment
-
General Legislation
-
Municipal Affairs
Articles & Books About
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.