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Hanson, Roger L.

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 1969-72 (District 55); Senate 1973-76 (District 10)

Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Counties Served: Becker, Otter Tail, Wadena

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 11/26/1925

Birth Place: Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

Birth County: Otter Tail

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death: 1/3/2005

Gender: Male

Religion: Lutheran

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Vergas

Occupation (when first elected): Retail Hardware, Plumbing and Heating

EDUCATION

Vergas Elementary School; Elementary School;
Frazee High School; Secondary;
Dakota Business College; Postsecondary;

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

County Government: Otter Tail County, Minnesota (Special Deputy Sheriff, 8 years); 19?? to 19??

County Government: Otter Tail County, Minnesota (Centennial Committee); 19?? to 19??

Municipal Government: Vergas, Minnesota (City Fire Department, 20 years); 19?? to 19??

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Public Service Commission (Appointed by Governor Al Quie); 01/18/1979 to 1984 [Appointed]

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Appointed by Governor Rudy Perpich; He Resigned After Allegations of Collusion with Northwestern Bell Telephone Company Were Raised); 11/25/1985 to 01/21/1986 [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Donna
Children: Five children: Chuck and Tim (sons)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He was a member of the Republican Party.

He ran unsuccessfully for the Independent-Republican party endorsement for Minnesota Lieutenant Governor, with Robert W. "Bob" Johnson as Governor, in the 1978 primary election. They bypassed the party's endorsing convention.

He died from a heart attack in Vergas, Minnesota or Fargo, North Dakota. His funeral was held at St. John's Lutheran Church in Vergas, Minnesota.

Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975, Minnesota Legislative Manual and his obituary.

Click to view

Total Days Served: 2919

SESSIONS SERVED

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

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 10

Elected: 11/7/1972

Residence: Vergas

Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/2/1977

Counties Represented: Becker, Otter Tail, Wadena

Occupation: Retail Hardware, Plumbing and Heating

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Independent Republican Caucus

Committees:

Labor and Commerce
Labor and Commerce: Labor
Local Government
Natural Resources and Agriculture
Natural Resources and Agriculture: Game and Fish

68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 10

Elected: 11/7/1972

Residence: Vergas

Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/2/1977

Counties Represented: Becker, Otter Tail, Wadena

Occupation: Retail Hardware, Plumbing and Heating

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Labor and Commerce
Labor and Commerce: Labor
Natural Resources and Agriculture
Natural Resources and Agriculture: Game and Fish

Click to view

67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 55

Elected: 11/3/1970

Residence: Vergas

Term of Office: 1/4/1971 to 12/31/1972

Counties Represented: Otter Tail

Occupation: Retail Hardware, Plumbing and Heating

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Agriculture
Commerce and Economic Development
Financial Institutions
Governmental Operations
Local Government
Natural Resources

66th Legislative Session (1969-1970)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 55

Elected: 11/5/1968

Residence: Vergas

Term of Office: 1/6/1969 to 1/3/1971

Counties Represented: Otter Tail

Occupation: Retail Hardware, Plumbing and Heating

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Agriculture
Commerce and Economic Development
Conservation
Financial Institutions and Securities
Governmental Operations
Insurance
Labor Relations

Click to view

OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About

"Roger Hanson; Was a Former State Legislator(Obituary)." Star Tribune, January 6, 2005.
Salisbury, Bill. "Ex-Sen. Roger Hanson, Memorable Voice of Small-Town Minnesota (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, January 5, 2005.
Laszewski, Charles. "Phone Refund Comes to $25 for Customers of US West." St. Paul Pioneer Press, September 30, 1989, p. 1A, 5A.
Laszewski, Charles. "High Court Ruling Clears Way for Northwestern Bell Rate Suit." St. Paul Pioneer Press, March 22, 1988.
Marcotty, Josephine. "High Court to Hear NW Bell Case." Star Tribune, March 22, 1988, p. 1D, 4D.
Ragsdale, Jim. "FBI Probes Adams, Hanson Utilities Contacts." St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 5, 1986, p. 1B, 2B.
Hamburger, Tom and Joe Rigert. "Payments Lead to PUC Resignation." Minneapolis Star and Tribune, January 19, 1986, p. 1A, 4A.
"Vergas Man Selected. Hanson to Run for Lieutenant Governor." Detroit Lakes Record, June 26, 1978.
O'Keefe, Robert J. "Former State Senator to Join Johnson Race." St. Paul Pioneer Press, June 23, 1978.
"Hanson Says Decision to Be Candidate Was Quick, But not Rash." Fargo-Moorhead Forum, June 30, 1978.

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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.

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