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Dosland, William B. "W.B., Bill"

Senate 1959-62 (District 49); Senate 1963-72 (District 56)

Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Counties Served:  Clay, Wilkin

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 11/10/1927
Birth Place: Chicago, Illinois
Birth County:
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 4/5/1993
Gender: Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names: W.B., Bill
City of Residence (when first elected): Moorhead
Occupation (when first elected): Lawyer, Dosland and Dosland Law Firm

EDUCATION

Chicago High Schools, Illinois; Secondary; Graduate
Concordia College, Moorhead; B.A.; 1949
University of Minnesota, Law School; LL.B.; 1954

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Military: United States Navy (World War II); 194? to 194?
Military: United States Naval Reserve (Korean War); 195? to 195?
Board of Regents: University of Minnesota; 1978 to 1984 [Elected]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Donna Mae Mathisen (married in September 1956)
Children: Two children: Susan (daughter), David (son)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Randy P. Kamrath  - Son-in-Law

GENERAL NOTES

He moved to Moorhead, Minnesota right after World War II. He moved to Fargo, North Dakota in 1992.

He was a member of the Republican party. (St. Paul Pioneer Press and Fargo-Moorhead Forum Obituaries)

He died at Valley Lutheran Hospital in Mesa, Arizona, while on vacation.

Total Days Served: 5110

SESSIONS SERVED

67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1971
Body: Senate
District: 56
Elected: 11/3/1970
Residence: Moorhead
Term of Office: 1/4/1971 to 12/31/1972
Oath Date: 1/5/1971
Counties Represented: Clay, Wilkin
Occupation: Lawyer; Dosland, Dosland, and Nordhougen Law Firm
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
  • Civil Administration
  • Corrections and Commitments
  • Finance
  • Health and Welfare
  • Higher Education
  • Judiciary (Chair)
  • Rules and Administration

66th Legislative Session (1969-1970) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1969
Body: Senate
District: 56
Elected: 11/8/1966
Residence: Moorhead
Term of Office: 1/2/1967 to 1/3/1971
Oath Date: 1/3/1967
Counties Represented: Clay, Wilkin
Occupation: Lawyer, Dosland, Dosland, and Nordhougen Law Firm
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
  • Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs
  • Education
  • Finance
  • Judiciary
  • Local Government (Chair)
  • Public Welfare
  • Rules and Legislative Expense

65th Legislative Session (1967-1968)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1967
Body: Senate
District: 56
Elected: 11/8/1966
Residence: Moorhead
Term of Office: 1/2/1967 to 1/3/1971
Oath Date: 1/3/1967
Counties Represented: Clay, Wilkin
Occupation: Lawyer, Dosland and Dosland Law Firm
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
  • Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs
  • Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs: Pensions and Retirement Division
  • Education
  • Finance
  • Judiciary
  • Local Government (Chair)
  • Public Welfare
  • Rules and Legislative Expense

64th Legislative Session (1965-1966) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1965
Body: Senate
District: 56
Elected: 11/6/1962
Residence: Moorhead
Term of Office: 1/7/1963 to 1/1/1967
Oath Date: 1/8/1963
Counties Represented: Clay, Wilkin
Occupation: Lawyer, Dosland and Dosland Law Firm
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
  • Civil Administration
  • Finance
  • Judiciary
  • Military Affairs and Civil Defense
  • Municipal Affairs
  • Public Welfare
  • Towns and Counties

63rd Legislative Session (1963-1964)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1963
Body: Senate
District: 56
Elected: 11/6/1962
Residence: Moorhead
Term of Office: 1/7/1963 to 1/1/1967
Oath Date: 1/8/1963
Counties Represented: Clay, Wilkin
Occupation: Lawyer, Dosland and Dosland Law Firm
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
  • Civil Administration
  • Finance
  • Judiciary
  • Military Affairs and Civil Defense
  • Municipal Affairs
  • Public Welfare
  • Towns and Counties

62nd Legislative Session (1961-1962) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1961
Body: Senate
District: 49
Elected: 11/4/1958
Residence: Moorhead
Term of Office: 1/5/1959 to 1/6/1963
Oath Date: 1/6/1959
Counties Represented: Clay, Wilkin
Occupation: Lawyer, Dosland and Dosland Law Firm
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
  • General Legislation
  • Judiciary
  • Local Government
  • Public Welfare

61st Legislative Session (1959-1960)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1959
Body: Senate
District: 49
Elected: 11/4/1958
Residence: Moorhead
Term of Office: 1/5/1959 to 1/6/1963
Oath Date: 1/6/1959
Counties Represented: Clay, Wilkin
Occupation: Lawyer, Dosland and Dosland Law Firm
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
  • General Legislation
  • Judiciary
  • Local Government
  • Public Welfare

Articles & Books About

  • "William B. 'Bill' Dosland, Lawyer, Former Legislator, Dies in Arizona (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, April 7, 1993.
  • McEwen, Craig and John Sundvor. "Bill Dosland, Long GOP Leader, Dies (Obituary)." Fargo-Moorhead Forum, April 7, 1993.