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Bernard J. "Bernie, Brinky, B.J." Brinkman

Sessions Served    Other Information

House 1965-66 (District 26); House 1967-72 (District 26A); House 1973-86 (District 16B)

Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

Counties Served:  Meeker, Morrison, Stearns, Wright

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 6/8/1926
Birth Place: Farming, Minnesota
Birth County: Stearns
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 4/24/2006
Gender: Male
Religion: Catholic
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names: Bernie, Brinky, B.J.
City of Residence (when first elected): Richmond
Occupation (when first elected): Businessman; Owner and Operator, Brinky's Gas Station and Liquor Store/Former Employee, Great Northern Railway/Former Farmer

EDUCATION

Farming Grade School; Elementary School;
Albany High School; Secondary;

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

School Board/Administration: Richmond, Minnesota (School Board, Chair); 19?? to 19??
Military: United States Navy (World War II, Panama Canal, U.S.S. Plunkett); 1944 to 1946

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Vi Schouviller
Children: Five children: Gail (daughter); Wayne, Gary, Allen, and Dave (sons)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

He died of a heart attack in Paynesville, Minnesota. His funeral was held at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Richmond, Minnesota.

Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1979-80, the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975 and obituary.

Most recent term photo
Click to view
Total Days Served: 8036

SESSIONS SERVED

74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1985
Body: House
District: 16B
Elected: 11/6/1984
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/7/1985 to 1/4/1987
Oath Date: 1/8/1985
Counties Represented: Morrison, Stearns, Wright
Occupation: Retail Merchant
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Agriculture: Rural Economy
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance
  • Taxes
  • Taxes: Sales Tax
term photo
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73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1983
Body: House
District: 16B
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/6/1985
Oath Date: 1/4/1983
Counties Represented: Morrison, Stearns, Wright
Occupation: Retail Merchant
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Agriculture: Dairy and Livestock
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance (Chair)
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking
  • Taxes
  • Taxes: Tax Laws Division
  • Taxes: Tax Laws Division: Property Tax System Subcommittee

72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1981
Body: House
District: 16B
Elected: 11/4/1980
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/5/1981 to 1/2/1983
Oath Date: 1/6/1981
Counties Represented: Meeker, Stearns
Occupation: Retail Merchant
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Agriculture: Agriculture Products and Marketing
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance (Chair)
  • Rules and Legislative Administration
  • Taxes
  • Taxes: Revenue Division
term photo
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71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1979
Body: House
District: 16B
Elected: 11/7/1978
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/1/1979 to 1/4/1981
Oath Date: 1/3/1979
Counties Represented: Meeker, Stearns
Occupation: Retail Merchant/Businessman; Owner and Operator, Brinky's
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Agriculture: Agriculture Products and Marketing
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance (Chair)
  • Taxes
  • Taxes: Division I - Income and Sales Tax Division

70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1977
Body: House
District: 16B
Elected: 11/2/1976
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 12/31/1978
Oath Date: 1/4/1977
Counties Represented: Meeker, Stearns
Occupation: Retail Merchant; Owner and Operator, Brinky's/Former Employee, Great Northern Railway
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance (Chair)
  • Rules and Legislative Administration
  • Taxes
term photo
Click to view

69th Legislative Session (1975-1976)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1975
Body: House
District: 16B
Elected: 11/5/1974
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/6/1975 to 1/2/1977
Oath Date: 1/7/1975
Counties Represented: Meeker, Stearns
Occupation: Businessman
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance (Chair)
  • Rules and Legislative Administration
  • Taxes

68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/2/1973
Body: House
District: 16B
Elected: 11/7/1972
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/5/1975
Oath Date: 1/2/1973
Counties Represented: Meeker, Stearns
Occupation: Businessman
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance (Chair)
  • Rules and Legislative Administration
  • Taxes
term photo
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67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1971
Body: House
District: 26A
Elected: 11/3/1970
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/4/1971 to 12/31/1972
Oath Date: 1/5/1971
Counties Represented: Stearns
Occupation: Businessman
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Financial Institutions
  • Insurance
  • Labor Relations
  • Regulated Industries

66th Legislative Session (1969-1970)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1969
Body: House
District: 26A
Elected: 11/5/1968
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/6/1969 to 1/3/1971
Oath Date: 1/7/1969
Counties Represented: Stearns
Occupation: Businessman, Owner and Operator, Brinky's
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Employee Compensation and Retirements
  • Financial Institutions and Securities
  • Insurance
  • Regulated Industries and Utilities
term photo
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65th Legislative Session (1967-1968)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1967
Body: House
District: 26A
Elected: 11/8/1966
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/2/1967 to 1/5/1969
Oath Date: 1/3/1967
Counties Represented: Stearns
Occupation: Businessman; Owner and Operator, Brinky's/Former Employee, Great Northern Railway
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Dairy Products and Livestock
  • Employees Compensation
  • Forestry and Public Domain
  • Law Enforcement and Liquor Control
  • Motor Vehicles

64th Legislative Session (1965-1966)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1965
Body: House
District: 26
Elected: 11/3/1964
Residence: Richmond
Term of Office: 1/4/1965 to 1/1/1967
Oath Date: 1/5/1965
Counties Represented: Stearns
Occupation: Businessman; Owner and Operator, Brinky's Gas Station and Liquor Store/Former Employee, Great Northern Railway/Former Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Cooperatives
  • Dairy Products and Livestock
  • Law Enforcement and Juvenile Delinquency
  • Motor Vehicles

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.

Photographs

Portrait of Bernard J. Brinkman.

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