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    Gearty, Edward J. "Ed"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1963-70 (District 39); Senate 1971-72 (District 39); Senate 1973-80 (District 54)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

    Counties Served:  Hennepin

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 3/17/1923
    Birth Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota
    Birth County: Hennepin
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 9/25/2009
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Ed
    City of Residence (when first elected): Minneapolis
    Occupation (when first elected): Lawyer, Private Practice

    EDUCATION

    De La Salle High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1941
    St. Thomas College; B.A.; 1952
    Georgetown University, Law School, Washington D.C.; LL.B.;

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Military: United States Navy (World War II, Pacific Theatre, Aviation Machinist's Mate); 1942 to 1948
    State Attorney General Staff: Minnesota Office of the Attorney General (Assistant Attorney General); 1956 to 1958
    Municipal Board/Commission: Minneapolis, Minnesota (City Park Board Commissioner); 1959 to 1962

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Single (when first elected); Lorraine Breher (first listed in 1967)
    Children: One child: Ann "Annie" Therese (daughter)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    Special Legislative Concerns: government.

    He was of Irish ancestry.

    He had a twin brother.

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

    He died of heart failure on the way to a hospital. His funeral was held at the Catholic Church of St. Austin in North Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was buried at Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights, Minnesota.

    He was a lifetime member of Ascension Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975.

    Most recent term photo
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    Total Days Served: 6573

    SESSIONS SERVED

    71st Legislative Session (1979-1980) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1979
    Body: Senate
    District: 54
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
    Oath Date: 1/4/1977
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney, Private Practice
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Elections (Chair)
    • General Legislation and Administrative Rules
    • General Legislation and Administrative Rules: Arts
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Bill Scheduling
    • Rules and Administration: Committees
    • Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
    • Rules and Administration: Personnel
    • Rules and Administration: Referrals (Rule 35) (Chair)
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Rural and Commercial Transportation
    • Transportation: Transit
    • Veterans' Affairs
    Leadership Position: President of the Senate

    70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1977
    Body: Senate
    District: 54
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
    Oath Date: 1/4/1977
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney, Private Practice
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Elections (Chair)
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Bill Scheduling
    • Rules and Administration: Committees
    • Rules and Administration: Late Bills (Joint Rule 2.03)
    • Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
    • Rules and Administration: Referral (Rule 35) (Chair)
    • Transportation
    Leadership Position: President of the Senate
    term photo
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    69th Legislative Session (1975-1976) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1975
    Body: Senate
    District: 54
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/2/1977
    Oath Date: 1/2/1973
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Lawyer, Private Practice
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
    Committees:
    • Governmental Operations (Chair)
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs: Operations and Structure
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Staffing (Chair)
    • Taxes and Tax Laws

    68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/2/1973
    Body: Senate
    District: 54
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/2/1977
    Oath Date: 1/2/1973
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Lawyer, Private Practice
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
    Committees:
    • Governmental Operations (Chair)
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs: Metropolitan Transportation (Chair)
    • Rules and Administration
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    term photo
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    67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1971
    Body: Senate
    District: 39
    Elected: 11/3/1970
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/4/1971 to 12/31/1972
    Oath Date: 1/5/1971
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Lawyer, Private Practice
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Judiciary
    • Labor Relations
    • Public Highways
    • Urban Affairs

    66th Legislative Session (1969-1970)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1969
    Body: House
    District: 39
    Elected: 11/5/1968
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/6/1969 to 1/3/1971
    Oath Date: 1/7/1969
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Lawyer, Private Practice
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
    term photo
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    65th Legislative Session (1967-1968)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1967
    Body: House
    District: 39
    Elected: 11/8/1966
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/2/1967 to 1/5/1969
    Oath Date: 1/3/1967
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Lawyer, Private Practice
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Cities of the First Class
    • Insurance and Securities
    • Judiciary
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs

    64th Legislative Session (1965-1966)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1965
    Body: House
    District: 39
    Elected: 11/3/1964
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/4/1965 to 1/1/1967
    Oath Date: 1/5/1965
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Lawyer, Private Practice
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Commerce
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary
    • State and Junior Colleges

    63rd Legislative Session (1963-1964)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1963
    Body: House
    District: 39
    Elected: 11/6/1962
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/7/1963 to 1/3/1965
    Oath Date: 1/8/1963
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Lawyer, Private Practice
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Commerce, Manufacturing and Retail Trade
    • Forestry and Public Domain
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary
    • State and Junior Colleges
    term photo
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    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.

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