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Pillsbury, George Sturgis

Senate 1971-72 (District 33); Senate 1973-82 (District 42)

Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Counties Served:  Hennepin, Wright

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 7/17/1921
Birth Place: Crystal Bay, Orono Township, Minnesota
Birth County: Hennepin
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 10/13/2012
Gender: Male
Religion: Episcopalian
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected): Wayzata
Occupation (when first elected): Pillsbury Co./Sargent Management Co./Munsingwear, Inc./Soo Line Railroad/Northwestern National Bank

EDUCATION

Blake School, Hopkins, Minnesota; Secondary;
St. Paul's School, Concord, New Hampshire; Secondary;
Yale University; B.A.; 1942

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Military: United States Marine Corps (World War II, Philippines, 1st Lieutenant); 1943 to 1946
School Board/Administration: Orono, Minnesota (School Board, Member, 8 years); 196? to 196?

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Sally Whitney (her father was Wheelock Whitney)
Children: Four children: Charlie (he was Gary Trudeau's roommate at Yale, Trudeau's comic strip character Mike Doonesbury was based, in part, on Charlie), George (sons); Sarah and Katharine (daughters)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Charles Alfred Pillsbury  - Grandfather
John Sargent Pillsbury  - Great Great Uncle
John Pillsbury Snyder  - Second Cousin Once Removed

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative concerns: government operations, education, economic environment, taxes.

He was a member of the Republican Party.

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

Total Days Served: 4382

SESSIONS SERVED

72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1981
Body: Senate
District: 42
Elected: 11/4/1980
Residence: Wayzata
Term of Office: 1/5/1981 to 1/2/1983
Oath Date: 1/6/1981
Counties Represented: Hennepin, Wright
Occupation: Investment Advisor, Sargent Management Company
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Elections and Reapportionment
  • Finance
  • Finance: Semi-States/DOT
  • Public Employees and Pensions
  • Rules and Administration

71st Legislative Session (1979-1980) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1979
Body: Senate
District: 42
Elected: 11/2/1976
Residence: Wayzata
Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
Oath Date: 1/4/1977
Counties Represented: Hennepin, Wright
Occupation: Investment Advisor, Sargent Management Company
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Elections
  • Employment
  • Employment: Labor
  • Finance
  • Finance: Joint Claims
  • Finance: Semi-State and Transportation
  • Rules and Administration

70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1977
Body: Senate
District: 42
Elected: 11/2/1976
Residence: Wayzata
Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
Oath Date: 1/4/1977
Counties Represented: Hennepin, Wright
Occupation: Investment Advisory, Sargent Management Company
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Elections
  • Employment
  • Employment: Labor
  • Finance
  • Finance: Joint Claims
  • Rules and Administration

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

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1975
Body: Senate
District: 42
Elected: 11/7/1972
Residence: Wayzata
Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/2/1977
Oath Date: 1/2/1973
Counties Represented: Hennepin, Wright
Occupation: Investment Advisory
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Independent Republican Caucus
Committees:
  • Governmental Operations
  • Governmental Operations: Government Structure
  • Judiciary
  • Judiciary: Private Law Reform
  • Labor and Commerce
  • Labor and Commerce: Labor

68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/2/1973
Body: Senate
District: 42
Elected: 11/7/1972
Residence: Wayzata
Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/2/1977
Oath Date: 1/2/1973
Counties Represented: Hennepin, Wright
Occupation: None Listed
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
  • Governmental Operations
  • Governmental Operations: Government Structure
  • Judiciary
  • Judiciary: Judiciary
  • Judiciary: Law Reform
  • Taxes and Tax Laws

67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1971
Body: Senate
District: 33
Elected: 11/3/1970
Residence: Wayzata
Term of Office: 1/4/1971 to 12/31/1972
Oath Date: 1/5/1971
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Pillsbury Co./Sargent Management Co./Munsingwear, Inc./Soo Line Railroad/Northwestern National Bank
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
  • Civil Administration
  • Commerce and Insurance
  • Education
  • General Legislation
  • Local Government
  • Natural Resoures and Environment

Articles & Books About

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.
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

Archive Collections

Photographs

Portrait of George Sturgis Pillsbury. c. 1973. Photo credit: Minnesota Senate.