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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.


    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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

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