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    Pavlak, Sr., Robert Leo "Bob"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1967-72 (District 43A); House 1973-74 (District 67A); House 1979 (District 67A)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

    Counties Served:  Dakota, Ramsey

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 7/18/1924
    Birth Place: Saint Paul, Minnesota
    Birth County: Ramsey
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 10/9/1994
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Bob
    City of Residence (when first elected): Saint Paul
    Occupation (when first elected): Police Sergeant, St. Paul Police Department

    EDUCATION

    Crosier Preparatory Seminary, Onamia; Secondary;

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Military: United States Marine Corps; 1942 to 1945
    Municipal Government: St. Paul, Minnesota (Police Sergeant, Police Lieutenant); 1947 to 07/31/1981
    U.S. Executive Branch: United States Marshals Service, District of Minnesota (United States Marshal); 12/14/1981 to 08/1990 [Appointed]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Edel Ruth (married in 1951)
    Children: Six children: Christine (she was killed in a car accident in 1978), Catherine, Mary, and Susan (daughters); Robert "Bob" L. Jr., and David (sons)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    Raymond L. Pavlak  - Cousin

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was raised in Catholic orphanages in Milaca, Minnesota, after his parents died.

    He was a member of the Republican Party. "Pavlak, a Republican, served in the Minnesota House from 1966 to 1974." (Obituary, Star Tribune, October 11, 1994)

    He ran unsuccessfully for the St. Paul City Council in 1962 and 1964.

    He ran unsuccessfully for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1974 election.

    He ran unsuccessfully for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1979 special election for the seat he lost due to a contested election.

    He was involved in a contested election after he defeated Arnold Kempe in the 1978 election. The House voted to unseat Robert L. Pavlak on May 18, 1979 due to charges of unfair campaign practices. He was unseated by a 67-66 vote. The seat was declared vacant. Pavlak ran unsuccessfully in the special election. Frank J. Rodriguez, Sr. won the special election.

    His father, Leo, was a police officer who was killed in the line of duty in 1933 by the Barker-Karpis (Ma Barker's) gang in South St. Paul, Minnesota. His mother died of cancer a year later.

    He was guardian for two nephews.

    He died from cancer of the esophagus at home in West St. Paul, Minnesota. His funeral was held at St. Matthew's Catholic Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was buried in Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minnesota.

    He was a member of St. Matthew's Catholic Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by his obituary.

    Most recent term photo
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    Total Days Served: 3064

    SESSIONS SERVED

    71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1979
    Body: House
    District: 67A
    Elected: 11/7/1978
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/1/1979 to 5/18/1979 (unfinished term)
    Oath Date: 1/3/1979
    Counties Represented: Dakota, Ramsey
    Occupation: Police Lieutenant, St. Paul Police Department
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Criminal Justice (Chair) [He was Chair in 1979 only.]
    • Criminal Justice: Juvenile, Criminal Law and Procedures
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance: Insurance
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Personnel
    Reason for unfinished term: Other - See Notes
    Session Notes: Robert L. Pavlak was involved in a contested election after he defeated Arnold Kempe in the 1978 election. The House voted to unseat Robert L. Pavlak on May 18, 1979 due to charges of unfair campaign practices. He was unseated by a 67-66 vote. The seat was declared vacant. Pavlak ran unsuccessfully in the special election. Frank J. Rodriguez, Sr. won the special election.

    68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/2/1973
    Body: House
    District: 67A
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/5/1975
    Oath Date: 1/2/1973
    Counties Represented: Dakota, Ramsey
    Occupation: Police Lieutenant, St. Paul Police Department
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: "Pavlak, a Republican, served in the Minnesota House from 1966 to 1974." (Obituary, Star Tribune, October 11, 1994)
    Committees:
    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Crime Prevention and Corrections
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Judiciary
    Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election
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    67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1971
    Body: House
    District: 43A
    Elected: 11/3/1970
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/4/1971 to 12/31/1972
    Oath Date: 1/5/1971
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Police Sergeant, St. Paul Police Department
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: "Pavlak, a Republican, served in the Minnesota House from 1966 to 1974." (Obituary, Star Tribune, October 11, 1994)
    Committees:
    • Crime Prevention
    • Financial Institutions
    • Judiciary
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
    • Reapportionment and Elections
    • Regulated Industries

    66th Legislative Session (1969-1970)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1969
    Body: House
    District: 43A
    Elected: 11/5/1968
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/6/1969 to 1/3/1971
    Oath Date: 1/7/1969
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Police Sergeant, St. Paul Police Department
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: "Pavlak, a Republican, served in the Minnesota House from 1966 to 1974." (Obituary, Star Tribune, October 11, 1994)
    Committees:
    • Cities of the First Class
    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Crime Prevention
    • Elections and Reapportionment
    • Land and Water Resources
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
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    65th Legislative Session (1967-1968)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1967
    Body: House
    District: 43A
    Elected: 11/8/1966
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/2/1967 to 1/5/1969
    Oath Date: 1/3/1967
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Police Sergeant, St. Paul Police Department
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: "Pavlak, a Republican, served in the Minnesota House from 1966 to 1974." (Obituary, Star Tribune, October 11, 1994)
    Committees:
    • Cities of the First Class
    • Commerce and Business Development
    • Elections and Reapportionment
    • Law Enforcement and Liquor Control
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs

    OTHER INFORMATION

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    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.

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