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    Hansen, Melvin E. "Mel"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    Senate 1963-72 (District 34); Senate 1973-76 (District 61)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

    Counties Served:  Hennepin

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 9/20/1915
    Birth Place: Russell, Minnesota
    Birth County: Lyon
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 8/29/1994
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Lutheran
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Mel
    City of Residence (when first elected): Minneapolis
    Occupation (when first elected): Manager, Careers Employment

    EDUCATION

    Russell High School; Secondary; Graduate
    University of Minnesota; B.A.; Economics, 1940

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Governor's Commission for Employment of Handicapped, Employers Committee; 19?? to 19??
    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Governor's Crime Commission, Information Systems Committee; 19?? to 19??
    Military: United States Navy (World War II, European Theatre, Battleship); 1944 to 1946

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Ethel Long (married in 1937, she died in 1984)
    Children: Three children: Kerry (son); Sharon, and Judith (daughters)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    "Hansen was an Independent-Republican..." (Star Tribune Obituary, August 31, 1994)

    He died at the Martin Luther Manor in Bloomington, Minnesota. His funeral was held at St. Peder's Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

    He was a member of St. Peder's Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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

    Most recent term photo
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    Total Days Served: 5110

    SESSIONS SERVED

    69th Legislative Session (1975-1976) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1975
    Body: Senate
    District: 61
    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: President, Careers, Inc.; Personnel Counselling and Placement
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Independent Republican Caucus
    Committees:
    • Finance
    • Finance: Education
    • Finance: State Departments II
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Pensions and Retirement
    • Transportation and General Legislation
    • Transportation and General Legislation: Elections
    Session Notes: His margin of victory over Wesley J. Skoglund was only 32 votes so a recount occurred. After the recount he was declared the winner by 28 votes.

    68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/2/1973
    Body: Senate
    District: 61
    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: President, Careers, Inc.; Personnel Counselling and Placement
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: "Hansen was an Independent-Republican..." (Star Tribune Obituary, August 31, 1994)
    Committees:
    • Finance
    • Finance: Education
    • Finance: Natural Resources, Highways and Semi-State
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Pensions and Retirement
    • Transportation and General Legislation
    • Transportation and General Legislation: Elections
    Session Notes: His margin of victory over Wesley J. Skoglund was only 32 votes so a recount occurred. After the recount he was declared the winner by 28 votes.
    term photo
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    67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1971
    Body: Senate
    District: 34
    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: President, Careers, Inc.; Personnel Counselling and Placement
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: "Hansen was an Independent-Republican..." (Star Tribune Obituary, August 31, 1994)
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Education
    • Elections and Reapportionment
    • Finance
    • General Legislation
    • Pensions and Retirement (Chair)
    • Rules and Administration

    66th Legislative Session (1969-1970) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1969
    Body: Senate
    District: 34
    Elected: 11/8/1966
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/2/1967 to 1/3/1971
    Oath Date: 1/3/1967
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: President, Careers, Inc.; Personnel Placement and Counselling
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: "Hansen was an Independent-Republican..." (Star Tribune Obituary, August 31, 1994)
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs
    • Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs: Pensions and Retirement Division (Chair)
    • Education
    • Elections and Reapportionment
    • Finance
    • General Legislation
    term photo
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    65th Legislative Session (1967-1968)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1967
    Body: Senate
    District: 34
    Elected: 11/8/1966
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/2/1967 to 1/3/1971
    Oath Date: 1/3/1967
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: President, Careers Inc.; Personnel Placement and Recruiting
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: "Hansen was an Independent-Republican..." (Star Tribune Obituary, August 31, 1994)
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs
    • Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs: Pensions and Retirement Division (Chair)
    • Education
    • Election and Reapportionment
    • Finance
    • General Legislation

    64th Legislative Session (1965-1966) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1965
    Body: Senate
    District: 34
    Elected: 11/6/1962
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/7/1963 to 1/1/1967
    Oath Date: 1/8/1963
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Co-owner, Career's Inc.; Personnel Placement and Recruiting
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: "Hansen was an Independent-Republican..." (Star Tribune Obituary, August 31, 1994)
    Committees:
    • Cities of the First Class
    • Education
    • Elections and Reapportionment
    • General Legislation
    • Municipal Affairs

    63rd Legislative Session (1963-1964)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1963
    Body: Senate
    District: 34
    Elected: 11/6/1962
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/7/1963 to 1/1/1967
    Oath Date: 1/8/1963
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Manager, Careers Employment
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: "Hansen was an Independent-Republican..." (Star Tribune Obituary, August 31, 1994)
    Committees:
    • Cities of the First Class
    • Education
    • Elections and Reapportionment
    • General Legislation
    • Municipal Affairs
    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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