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    O'Neill, Joseph Thomas "Joe"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1967-70 (District 47B); Senate 1971-72 (District 47); Senate 1973-76 (District 63)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

    Counties Served:  Ramsey

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 11/13/1931
    Birth Place: Saint Paul, Minnesota
    Birth County: Ramsey
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 1/25/2022
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Joe
    City of Residence (when first elected): Saint Paul
    Occupation (when first elected): Lawyer

    EDUCATION

    St. Luke's Catholic Grade School; Elementary School;
    St. Thomas Academy; Secondary; Graduate, 1949
    University of Notre Dame; B.A.; 1953
    University of Minnesota, Law School; LL.B.; 1956

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Military: United States Air Force (Azores Islands, Portugal; Judge Advocate Officer, 1st Lieutenant); 10/1956 to 07/1959

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Nancy Kenefick (married on September 11, 1956; she died in 2005)
    Children: Eight children: Kathleen, Maureen, and Shelagh (daughters); Joseph, Thomas, John, Michael, and Kevin (sons)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was of Irish ancestry.

    He was a member of the Republican Party. (Joseph Thomas O'Neill)

    Birth place, birth date, birth year, middle name, elementary school, marriage date, and party affiliation provided by the member.

    His motto was: "Community service is the rent you pay as a citizen."

    His funeral was held on January 29th, 2022 at the Church of the Assumption in St. Paul. He was buried at Resurrection Cemetery in St. Paul.

    Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 3654

    SESSIONS SERVED

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

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 63
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/2/1977
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Independent Republican Caucus
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Education: School Finance
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Re-referrals
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    Leadership Position: Minority Caucus Floor Leader

    68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 63
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/2/1977
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: He was a member of the Republican Party. (Joseph Thomas O'Neill)
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Education: School Finance
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Criminal Law and Correction
    • Judiciary: Judiciary
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    term photo
    Click to view

    67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 47
    Elected: 11/3/1970
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/4/1971 to 12/31/1972
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: He was a member of the Republican Party. (Joseph Thomas O'Neill)
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Corrections and Commitments
    • General Legislation
    • Higher Education
    • Judiciary
    • Pensions and Retirement

    66th Legislative Session (1969-1970)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 47B
    Elected: 11/5/1968
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/6/1969 to 1/3/1971
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: He was a member of the Republican Party. (Joseph Thomas O'Neill)
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Cities of the First Class
    • Crime Prevention
    • Employee Compensation and Retirements
    • Judiciary
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
    term photo
    Click to view

    65th Legislative Session (1967-1968)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 47B
    Elected: 11/8/1966
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/2/1967 to 1/5/1969
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: He was a member of the Republican Party. (Joseph Thomas O'Neill)
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Government Employee Security
    • Health and Welfare
    • Judiciary
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
    • Taxes

    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.

    Photographs


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