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    Menke, Richard Joseph "Dick, R.J."

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1971-72 (District 14B); House 1973-74 (District 36B)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

    Counties Served:  Carver, Le Sueur, Scott

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 10/6/1935
    Birth Place: Jordan, Minnesota
    Birth County: Scott
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 5/13/2006
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Dick, R.J.
    City of Residence (when first elected): Prior Lake
    Occupation (when first elected): Attorney

    EDUCATION

    Jordan High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1953
    University of Minnesota; College Graduate;
    University of Minnesota, Law School; Law Degree;

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Military: United States Air Force; 19?? to ?
    Judge: Scott County, Minnesota (He was First Appointed by Governor Wendell Anderson, Then Elected); 04/09/1974 to 01/1983 [Appointed]
    Judge: Minnesota's Judicial District Court (He was First Appointed, Then Elected); 01/1983 to 1997 [Appointed]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Judith Ann Anderson
    Children: Three children: Elizabeth, Terryl "Teri", and Jennifer (daughters)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. (Minneapolis Star, May 15, 1974)

    He died from a fall while hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail near Mount Laguna, Pine Valley, and San Diego, California. His funeral was held at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Prior Lake, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by his obituary.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 1191

    SESSIONS SERVED

    68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 36B
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Prior Lake
    Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 4/8/1974 (unfinished term)
    Counties Represented: Carver, Scott
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus Party Notes: He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. (Minneapolis Star, May 15, 1974)
    Committees:
    • Governmental Operations
    • Judiciary
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
    • Taxes
    • Transportation
    Reason for unfinished term: Appointed to other office
    Session Notes: He resigned from the Minnesota Legislature on April 8, 1974 when he was appointed by Governor Wendell Anderson as a Judge in Scott County.
    term photo
    Click to view

    67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 14B
    Elected: 11/3/1970
    Residence: Prior Lake
    Term of Office: 1/4/1971 to 12/31/1972
    Counties Represented: Le Sueur, Scott
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. (Minneapolis Star, May 15, 1974)
    Committees:
    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Higher Education
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About

    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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