Jefferson, Richard H. "Jeff"
House 1987-92 (District 57B); House 1993-98 (District 58B)
Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Counties Served:
Hennepin
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
1/20/1931
Birth Place:
Cincinnati, Ohio
Birth County:
Birth Country:
Date of Death:
6/28/2021
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: Black
Other Names:
Jeff
City of Residence (when first elected):
Minneapolis
Occupation (when first elected):
Retired Chemist, U.S. Bureau of Mines
EDUCATION
Xavier University, New Orleans, Louisiana; B.S.; Chemistry
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Military:
United States Army (Korean War Veteran, 7th Infantry Division);
[Dates Unknown]
State Board/Commission/Council:
Metropolitan Sports Facility Commission (Commissioner);
[Dates Unknown]
U.S. Executive Branch:
United States Bureau of Mines (Head of Research Services, Chemist);
1963 to 1986
Municipal Government:
Minneapolis, Minnesota (Housing and Redevelopment Authority);
1974 to 1981
Municipal Government:
Minneapolis, Minnesota (Community Development Agency);
1981 to 1985
Municipal Government:
Minneapolis, Minnesota (Public Housing Authority);
1985 to 1986
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Mary Louise (when first elected; she died in 1998); Widower; Alice M. Johnson (remarried in 1999, after he left office)
Children:
Five children
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Alice M. Johnson
- Wife
GENERAL NOTES
At the time of his election in 1986, he was the only black Legislator. (Pioneer Press, February 11, 1996)
He "authored the bill that made Minnesota the fourth state in the country to recognize Juneteenth." (Star Tribune, July 6, 2021)
He declared his candidacy for Minneapolis Mayor on January 12, 1992 for the 1993 Mayoral election. He dropped from the race in June of 1993.
He is interred at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Body:
House
District:
58B
Elected:
11/5/1996
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/6/1997 to 1/3/1999
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Legislator/Retired Chemist
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Capital Investment
-
Governmental Operations
Minutes
-
Governmental Operations: Pensions
Minutes
-
Governmental Operations: State Government Finance Division
Minutes
-
Labor-Management Relations (Chair)
Body:
House
District:
58B
Elected:
11/8/1994
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/2/1995 to 1/5/1997
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Legislator/Retired Chemist
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Elections
-
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Elections: Elections Division (Chair)
-
Governmental Operations
-
Governmental Operations: State Government Finance Division
-
International Trade and Economic Development
Body:
House
District:
58B
Elected:
11/3/1992
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/4/1993 to 1/1/1995
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Legislator/Retired Chemist
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Capital Investment
-
Governmental Operations and Gambling
-
Governmental Operations and Gambling: State Government Finance Division
-
Transportation and Transit
-
Transportation and Transit: Transit
Body:
House
District:
57B
Elected:
11/6/1990
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/7/1991 to 1/3/1993
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Legislator/Retired Chemist
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Governmental Operations
-
Governmental Operations: Pensions
-
Governmental Operations: Personnel (Chair)
-
Health and Human Services
-
Health and Human Services: Social and Family Services (Chair)
-
Housing
-
Housing: Community Revitalization
-
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs
-
Redistricting
Body:
House
District:
57B
Elected:
11/8/1988
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/2/1989 to 1/6/1991
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Legislator/Retired Chemist
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Financial Institutions and Housing
-
Financial Institutions and Housing: Banking
-
Financial Institutions and Housing: Housing Division
-
Governmental Operations
-
Governmental Operations: Personnel
-
Health and Human Services
-
Health and Human Services: Social Services (Chair)
-
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs
-
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs: Metro Affairs
-
Regulated Industries
Body:
House
District:
57B
Elected:
11/4/1986
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/5/1987 to 1/1/1989
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Retired Chemist, U.S. Bureau of Mines
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Economic Development and Housing
-
Economic Development and Housing: Housing and Community Development (Chair)
-
Governmental Operations
-
Governmental Operations: Personnel
-
Health and Human Services
-
Health and Human Services: Social Services
-
Metropolitan Affairs
-
Metropolitan Affairs: Finance
-
Metropolitan Affairs: Government Structure
-
Metropolitan Affairs: Transportation
Articles & Books About
-
McKinney, Matt. "Pioneering Black Lawmaker Dies: He Led Successful Effort to Recognize Juneteenth in Minnesota." Star Tribune, July 6, 2021, p. B1.
-
"Jefferson, Richard Harrison." Star Tribune, July 4, 2021, p. B11.
-
Wood, Nicole. "Retiring Lawmaker Recalls Legislative Accomplishments." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 10, 1998, p. 19.
-
"Minority Membership Increases." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 18, 1991, p. 19.
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.
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.