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    Hansen, Melvin E. "Mel"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    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.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 5110

    SESSIONS SERVED

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

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1975
    Body: Senate
    District: 61
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/2/1977
    Oath Date: 1/2/1973
    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.

    68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/2/1973
    Body: Senate
    District: 61
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/2/1977
    Oath Date: 1/2/1973
    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.
    term photo
    Click to view

    67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1971
    Body: Senate
    District: 34
    Elected: 11/3/1970
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/4/1971 to 12/31/1972
    Oath Date: 1/5/1971
    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

    66th Legislative Session (1969-1970) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1969
    Body: Senate
    District: 34
    Elected: 11/8/1966
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/2/1967 to 1/3/1971
    Oath Date: 1/3/1967
    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
    term photo
    Click to view

    65th Legislative Session (1967-1968)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1967
    Body: Senate
    District: 34
    Elected: 11/8/1966
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/2/1967 to 1/3/1971
    Oath Date: 1/3/1967
    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

    64th Legislative Session (1965-1966) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1965
    Body: Senate
    District: 34
    Elected: 11/6/1962
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/7/1963 to 1/1/1967
    Oath Date: 1/8/1963
    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

    63rd Legislative Session (1963-1964)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1963
    Body: Senate
    District: 34
    Elected: 11/6/1962
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/7/1963 to 1/1/1967
    Oath Date: 1/8/1963
    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
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About

    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

    Portrait of Melvin E. Hansen. c. 1973. Photo credit: Minnesota Senate.

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