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    Wigley, Richard E. "Dick"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1971-72 (District 11B); House 1973-82 (District 29B); House 1983-84 (District 24B)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

    Counties Served:  Blue Earth, Nicollet, Waseca

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 10/23/1918
    Birth Place: Judson Township, Minnesota
    Birth County: Blue Earth
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 4/22/1998
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Presbyterian
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Dick
    City of Residence (when first elected): Lake Crystal
    Occupation (when first elected): Farmer

    EDUCATION

    Mankato High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1937
    University of Minnesota, School of Agriculture; Attended College;

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    County Board/Commissioner: Blue Earth County, Minnesota (County Sheriff's Civil Service Commission, Chair); 19?? to 19??
    School Board/Administration: Lake Crystal, Minnesota (School Board, 12 years); 19?? to 19??

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Francys (she died on December 4, 2008)
    Children: Two children: Owen and Paul (sons)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    Richard Wigley  - Great Grandfather

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was born near Lake Crystal, Minnesota.

    "As one of only 31 Republicans in the Legislature during his first year in office, he joined his colleagues in wearing buttons that said, '31 Ain't Fun.'" (Obituary, Star Tribune, April 24, 1998)

    He died of a heart attack or stroke while on his tractor at his farm near Lake Crystal, Minnesota. His funeral was held at First Presbyterian Church in Lake Crystal, Minnesota.

    He was a member of Lake Crystal First Presbyterian Church.

    Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975, MN Leg. Manual, and obituary.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 5117

    SESSIONS SERVED

    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1983
    Body: House
    District: 24B
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Lake Crystal
    Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/6/1985
    Oath Date: 1/5/1983
    Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Nicollet, Waseca
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Pensions and Investments
    • Regulated Industries
    • Regulated Industries: Beverage
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Highway Safety

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1981
    Body: House
    District: 29B
    Elected: 11/4/1980
    Residence: Lake Crystal
    Term of Office: 1/5/1981 to 1/2/1983
    Oath Date: 1/6/1981
    Counties Represented: Blue Earth
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Administration
    • Regulated Industries
    • Regulated Industries: Rates Under Bond-Interim Rates
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Trunk Highways
    term photo
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    71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1979
    Body: House
    District: 29B
    Elected: 11/7/1978
    Residence: Lake Crystal
    Term of Office: 1/1/1979 to 1/4/1981
    Oath Date: 1/3/1979
    Counties Represented: Blue Earth
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Energy and Utilities (Chair) [He was the Chair in 1979 only.]
    • Energy and Utilities: Utilities Regulation and Pricing
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs: Elections and Campaign Practices
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Administration and Structures

    70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1977
    Body: House
    District: 29B
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Lake Crystal
    Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 12/31/1978
    Oath Date: 1/4/1977
    Counties Represented: Blue Earth
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Health and Welfare
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Transportation
    term photo
    Click to view

    69th Legislative Session (1975-1976)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1975
    Body: House
    District: 29B
    Elected: 11/5/1974
    Residence: Lake Crystal
    Term of Office: 1/6/1975 to 1/2/1977
    Oath Date: 1/7/1975
    Counties Represented: Blue Earth
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Republican
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Health and Welfare
    • Transportation

    68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/2/1973
    Body: House
    District: 29B
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Lake Crystal
    Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/5/1975
    Oath Date: 1/2/1973
    Counties Represented: Blue Earth
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Health and Welfare
    • Local Government
    term photo
    Click to view

    67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1971
    Body: House
    District: 11B
    Elected: 11/3/1970
    Residence: Lake Crystal
    Term of Office: 1/4/1971 to 12/31/1972
    Oath Date: 1/5/1971
    Counties Represented: Blue Earth
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: "As one of only 31 Republicans in the Legislature during his first year in office, he joined his colleagues in wearing buttons that said, '31 Ain't Fun.'" (Obituary, Star Tribune, April 24, 1998)
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
    • Health, Welfare and Corrections
    • Local Government
    • Transportation

    OTHER INFORMATION

    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.

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