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    Frerichs, Donald L. "Don"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1981-82 (District 32B); House 1983-92 (District 32A); House 1993-96 (District 31A)

    Party when first elected:  Independent Republican

    Counties Served:  Dodge, Olmsted, Winona

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 1/3/1931
    Birth Place: Ocheyedan, Iowa
    Birth County:
    Birth Country:
    Date of Death: 6/27/2019
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Lutheran
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Don
    City of Residence (when first elected): Rochester
    Occupation (when first elected): Investment/Commercial Real Estate

    EDUCATION

    Worthington High School; Secondary; 1949
    Mankato State University; B.A.; Business Administration/Industrial Arts

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    State Board/Commission/Council: Mississippi River Parkway Commission; [Dates Unknown]
    Municipal Government: Rochester Township, Minnesota (Supevisor, 11 years); 19?? to 19??
    Military: United States Armed Forces (Korean War; Served in the Army 14 years); 195? to 19??

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Dianne Rickbeil (Married on June 15, 1951)
    Children: Four children: Craig, Scott, Randy, and Krista
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.

    Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1983-84.

    His funeral was July 6, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Rochester. He is buried at Oakwood Cemetery.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 5642

    SESSIONS SERVED

    79th Legislative Session (1995-1996)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1995
    Body: House
    District: 31A
    Elected: 11/8/1994
    Residence: Rochester
    Term of Office: 1/2/1995 to 1/5/1997
    Oath Date: 1/3/1995
    Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted
    Occupation: President, Bio-Conversion, Inc.
    Party: Independent Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Economic Development, Infrastructure and Regulation Finance
    • Economic Development, Infrastructure and Regulation Finance: Transportation Finance Division
    • Transportation and Transit
    • Transportation and Transit: Transportation Systems
    • Ways and Means
    term photo
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    78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1993
    Body: House
    District: 31A
    Elected: 11/3/1992
    Residence: Rochester
    Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/1/1995
    Oath Date: 1/5/1993
    Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted
    Occupation: President, Bio-Conversion, Inc.; Consultant, Business Development and Management Systems
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Economic Development, Infrastructure and Regulation Finance
    • Environment and Natural Resources
    • Transportation and Transit
    • Transportation and Transit: Transit
    • Ways and Means
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

    77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1991
    Body: House
    District: 32A
    Elected: 11/6/1990
    Residence: Rochester
    Term of Office: 1/7/1991 to 1/3/1993
    Oath Date: 1/8/1991
    Counties Represented: Olmsted, Winona
    Occupation: President, F.M. Enviro Systems, Inc.: Consultant in Business Development and Management Systems
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Economic Development, Infrastructure, and Regulation Division
    • Economic Development
    • Economic Development: International Trade and Technology Division
    • Economic Development: Review of Economic Development Strategies
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking Division
    • Ways and Means
    term photo
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    76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1989
    Body: House
    District: 32A
    Elected: 11/8/1988
    Residence: Rochester
    Term of Office: 1/2/1989 to 1/6/1991
    Oath Date: 1/3/1989
    Counties Represented: Olmsted, Winona
    Occupation: Vice President Corporate Development, Homeland Foods, Inc.
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Agriculture, Transportation and Semi-State Division
    • Economic Development
    • Economic Development: International Trade and Technology Division
    • Economic Development: Job Training and Retraining
    • Financial Institutions and Housing
    • Financial Institutions and Housing: Housing Division

    75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1987
    Body: House
    District: 32A
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Rochester
    Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/1/1989
    Oath Date: 1/6/1987
    Counties Represented: Olmsted, Winona
    Occupation: Assistant Director, Winona State University, Rochester Center
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Economic Development and Housing
    • Economic Development and Housing: Job Development and Training
    • Future and Technology
    • Future and Technology: Futurist
    • Future and Technology: Telecommunication
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Property Tax Division
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Safety

    74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1985
    Body: House
    District: 32A
    Elected: 11/6/1984
    Residence: Rochester
    Term of Office: 1/7/1985 to 1/4/1987
    Oath Date: 1/8/1985
    Counties Represented: Olmsted, Winona
    Occupation: Investment/Commercial Realtor
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Education Division
    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Commerce and Economic Development: Commerce and Regulation
    • Commerce and Economic Development: Small Business, Economic Development and Tourism
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Special Subcommittee on Department of Public Safety (Chair)
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader
    term photo
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    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1983
    Body: House
    District: 32A
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Rochester
    Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/6/1985
    Oath Date: 1/4/1983
    Counties Represented: Olmsted, Winona
    Occupation: Investment/Commercial Real Estate
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Education Division
    • Local and Urban Affairs
    • Local and Urban Affairs: Governmental Administration and Structures
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Commercial and Passenger Transportation
    • Transportation: Highway Safety

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1981
    Body: House
    District: 32B
    Elected: 7/15/1981
    Residence: Rochester
    Term of Office: 7/27/1981 to 1/2/1983 (Special Election)
    Oath Date: 7/27/1981
    Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted
    Occupation: Investment/Commercial Real Estate
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    Session Notes: He won the seat vacated by Don Friedrich. According to the Rochester Post-Bulletin, he was sworn in on Monday, July 27, 1981.

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About

    • "Donald Frerichs - Rochester." Rochester Post Bulletin, July 1, 2019.

    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 Donald L. Frerichs. c. 1985. Photo credit: Minnesota House of Representatives.

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