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    Boo, Benjamin "Ben"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1983-92 (District 8B)

    Party when first elected:  Independent Republican

    Counties Served:  St. Louis

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 1/21/1925
    Birth Place: Pine City, Minnesota
    Birth County: Pine
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 12/1/2021
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Ben
    City of Residence (when first elected): Duluth
    Occupation (when first elected): Legislator

    EDUCATION

    U.S. Army, Command and General Staff College (CGSC); Postsecondary;
    University of Missouri; Attended College;
    University of Minnesota; Attended College;

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Military: National Guard (during the Korean and Vietnam wars); [Dates Unknown]
    Military: United States Army (Air Force); 1942 to 19??
    County Government: St. Louis County (Purchasing Agent); 1958 to ?
    Municipal Mayor: Duluth, Minnesota; 1967 to 1975
    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (Executive Director); 1975 to 1979
    State Board/Commission/Council: Upper Great Lakes Regional Commission (Director); 02/1979 to 19??

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Mary
    Children: Six children: Richard, Chris, Peter, Michael, Matt (sons) and Mary (daughter)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 3337

    SESSIONS SERVED

    77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 08B
    Elected: 11/6/1990
    Residence: Duluth
    Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993
    Counties Represented: St. Louis
    Occupation: Legislator
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking Division
    • General Legislation, Veterans Affairs, and Gaming
    • General Legislation, Veterans Affairs, and Gaming: Elections Division
    • Health and Human Services
    • Health and Human Services: Social and Family Services
    • Redistricting
    • Regulated Industries
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 08B
    Elected: 11/8/1988
    Residence: Duluth
    Term of Office: 1/3/1989 to 1/7/1991
    Counties Represented: St. Louis
    Occupation: Legislator
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Financial Institutions and Housing
    • Financial Institutions and Housing: Banking
    • Financial Institutions and Housing: Housing Division
    • General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming
    • General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming: Elections Division
    • General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming: Veterans Affairs
    • Health and Human Services
    • Health and Human Services: Transitional Services
    • Regulated Industries

    75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 08B
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Duluth
    Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/2/1989
    Counties Represented: St. Louis
    Occupation: Legislator
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Education Division
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance: Financial Institutions
    • General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming
    • General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming: Gaming
    • Higher Education

    74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 08B
    Elected: 11/6/1984
    Residence: Duluth
    Term of Office: 1/8/1985 to 1/5/1987
    Counties Represented: St. Louis
    Occupation: Legislator
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Education Division
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Health and Human Services
    • Health and Human Services: Health Care
    term photo
    Click to view

    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 08B
    Elected: 11/8/1983
    Residence: Duluth
    Term of Office: 11/17/1983 to 1/7/1985 (Special Election)
    Counties Represented: St. Louis
    Occupation: Legislator
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    Session Notes: He won the seat vacated by Tom Berkelman.

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    Cadeau, Teri. "Former Duluth Mayor Ben Boo remembered as a 'gentle leader'." Duluth News Tribune, December 10, 2021.

    Hollingsworth, Jana. "Former Duluth Mayor Ben Boo, a 'Consummate Politician,' Dies at 96: City Leader, State Legislator." Star Tribune, December 10, 2021.



    The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.

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