Luther, William Paul "Bill"
House 1975-76 (District 45B); Senate 1977-82 (District 45); Senate 1983-94 (District 47)
Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Counties Served:
Hennepin
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
6/27/1945
Birth Place:
Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Birth County:
Otter Tail
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Catholic
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Bill
City of Residence (when first elected):
Brooklyn Center
Occupation (when first elected):
Attorney
EDUCATION
Fergus Falls High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1963
University of Minnesota; B.S.; Engineering, Honors Graduate, 1967
University of Minnesota, Law School; J.D.; Honors Graduate, 1970
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
U.S. Attorney:
8th Circuit, United States Court of Appeals (Judicial Clerkship, Prosecuting Attorney);
1970 to 1971
Judicial Administration:
United States Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit (Judicial Clerkship);
1970 to 1971
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota Governor's Council on Consumer Affairs;
1974 to 19??
[Appointed]
U.S. Representative:
6th Congressional District, Minnesota;
01/03/1995 to 01/03/2003
[Elected]
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Darlene Joyce (married in December 1967; she died in January 2002)
Children:
Two children: Alex (son), Alicia (daughter)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Darlene Joyce Luther
- Wife
GENERAL NOTES
Special Legislative Concerns: budget, ethics, finance, taxes, energy, economic development, environment, consumer protection.
He was raised on a dairy farm 5 miles northwest of Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
When his wife, Darlene Joyce Luther, first took office in 1993, they became the first married couple to serve in the Minnesota Legislature at the same time.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the United States House of Representatives in 2002.
He sought the Democratic-Farmer-Labor primary endorsement for Minnesota Attorney General in 2006 after Matt Entenza dropped out of the race. He lost the primary endorsement to Lori Swanson.
Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975.
Body:
Senate
District:
47
Elected:
11/3/1992
Residence:
Brooklyn Park
Term of Office:
1/5/1993 to 1/1/1995
(unfinished term)
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Commerce and Consumer Protection
-
Commerce and Consumer Protection: Insurance (Chair)
-
Ethics and Campaign Reform
-
Finance
-
Finance: Finance State Government Division
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Bill Referral (Chair)
-
Rules and Administration: Committees
-
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules (Chair)
-
Rules and Administration: Personnel
Leadership Position:
Assistant Majority Leader
Reason for unfinished term:
Elected to other office
Session Notes:
He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in the Nov. 8, 1994 elections.
Body:
Senate
District:
47
Elected:
11/6/1990
Residence:
Brooklyn Park
Term of Office:
1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Commerce
-
Commerce: Insurance (Chair)
-
Elections and Ethics
-
Finance
-
Finance: Economic and State Affairs Division
-
Judiciary
-
Judiciary: Civil Law Division
-
Redistricting
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Bill Referral (Chair)
-
Rules and Administration: Capitol Renovation
-
Rules and Administration: Committees
-
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules (Chair)
-
Rules and Administration: Personnel
Leadership Position:
Assistant Majority Leader
Body:
Senate
District:
47
Elected:
11/4/1986
Residence:
Brooklyn Park
Term of Office:
1/6/1987 to 1/7/1991
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Commerce
-
Commerce: Insurance (Chair)
-
Elections and Ethics
-
Finance
-
Finance: State Departments Division
-
Judiciary
-
Judiciary: Civil Law Division
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Bill Referral (Chair)
-
Rules and Administration: Capitol Renovation
-
Rules and Administration: Committees
-
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules (Chair)
-
Rules and Administration: Personnel
-
Rules and Administration: Senate Budget
Leadership Position:
Assistant Majority Leader
Body:
Senate
District:
47
Elected:
11/4/1986
Residence:
Brooklyn Park
Term of Office:
1/6/1987 to 1/7/1991
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Commerce
-
Commerce: Insurance (Chair)
-
Elections and Ethics
-
Finance
-
Finance: State Departments Division
-
Judiciary
-
Judiciary: Civil Law Division
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Bill Referral (Chair)
-
Rules and Administration: Capitol Renovation
-
Rules and Administration: Committees
-
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules (Chair)
-
Rules and Administration: Personnel
-
Rules and Administration: Senate Budget
Leadership Position:
Assistant Majority Leader
Body:
Senate
District:
47
Elected:
11/2/1982
Residence:
Brooklyn Park
Term of Office:
1/4/1983 to 1/5/1987
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Economic Development and Commerce
-
Economic Development and Commerce: Insurance (Chair)
-
Elections and Ethics
-
Finance
-
Finance: State Departments
-
Judiciary
-
Judiciary: Civil Law
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Bill Referral (Chair)
-
Rules and Administration: Bill Scheduling
-
Rules and Administration: Committees
-
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules (Chair)
-
Rules and Administration: Personnel
Leadership Position:
Assistant Majority Leader
Body:
Senate
District:
47
Elected:
11/2/1982
Residence:
Brooklyn Park
Term of Office:
1/4/1983 to 1/5/1987
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Economic Development and Commerce
-
Economic Development and Commerce: Insurance (Chair)
-
Elections and Ethics
-
Finance
-
Finance: State Departments
-
Judiciary
-
Judiciary: Civil Law
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Bill Referral (Chair)
-
Rules and Administration: Bill Scheduling
-
Rules and Administration: Committees
-
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules (Chair)
-
Rules and Administration: Personnel
Leadership Position:
Assistant Majority Leader
Body:
Senate
District:
45
Elected:
11/4/1980
Residence:
Brooklyn Park
Term of Office:
1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture and Natural Resources
-
Agriculture and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection (Chair)
-
Agriculture and Natural Resources: Public Land and Water Resources
-
Commerce
-
Commerce: Insurance
-
Finance
-
Finance: State Departments (Chair)
Body:
Senate
District:
45
Elected:
11/2/1976
Residence:
Brooklyn Park
Term of Office:
1/4/1977 to 1/5/1981
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture and Natural Resources
-
Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agriculture
-
Agriculture and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection (Chair)
-
Commerce
-
Commerce: Consumer Protection
-
Employment
-
Employment: Labor
-
Finance
-
Finance: Joint Claims
-
Finance: State Departments
-
Transportation: Pipelines-1979
Body:
Senate
District:
45
Elected:
11/2/1976
Residence:
Brooklyn Center
Term of Office:
1/4/1977 to 1/5/1981
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture and Natural Resources
-
Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agriculture
-
Agriculture and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection (Chair)
-
Employment
-
Employment: Labor
-
Finance
-
Finance: Joint Claims
-
Finance: Semi-State and Transportation
Body:
House
District:
45B
Elected:
11/5/1974
Residence:
Brooklyn Center
Term of Office:
1/7/1975 to 1/3/1977
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture
-
Environment and Natural Resources
-
Judiciary
Articles & Books About
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.
Photographs
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