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    Luther, William Paul "Bill"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1975-76 (District 45B); Senate 1977-82 (District 45); Senate 1983-94 (District 47)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Hennepin

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 6/27/1945
    Birth Place: Fergus Falls, Minnesota
    Birth County: Otter Tail
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Bill
    City of Residence (when first elected): Brooklyn Center
    Occupation (when first elected): Attorney

    EDUCATION

    Fergus Falls High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1963
    University of Minnesota; B.S.; Engineering, Honors Graduate, 1967
    University of Minnesota, Law School; J.D.; Honors Graduate, 1970

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    U.S. Attorney: 8th Circuit, United States Court of Appeals (Judicial Clerkship, Prosecuting Attorney); 1970 to 1971
    Judicial Administration: United States Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit (Judicial Clerkship); 1970 to 1971
    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Governor's Council on Consumer Affairs; 1974 to 19?? [Appointed]
    U.S. Representative: 6th Congressional District, Minnesota; 01/03/1995 to 01/03/2003 [Elected]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Darlene Joyce (married in December 1967; she died in January 2002)
    Children: Two children: Alex (son), Alicia (daughter)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    Darlene Joyce Luther  - Wife

    GENERAL NOTES

    Special Legislative Concerns: budget, ethics, finance, taxes, energy, economic development, environment, consumer protection.

    He was raised on a dairy farm 5 miles northwest of Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

    When his wife, Darlene Joyce Luther, first took office in 1993, they became the first married couple to serve in the Minnesota Legislature at the same time.

    He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the United States House of Representatives in 2002.

    He sought the Democratic-Farmer-Labor primary endorsement for Minnesota Attorney General in 2006 after Matt Entenza dropped out of the race. He lost the primary endorsement to Lori Swanson.

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

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 7301

    SESSIONS SERVED

    78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1993
    Body: Senate
    District: 47
    Elected: 11/3/1992
    Residence: Brooklyn Park
    Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/1/1995 (unfinished term)
    Oath Date: 1/5/1993
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Commerce and Consumer Protection
    • Commerce and Consumer Protection: Insurance (Chair)
    • Ethics and Campaign Reform
    • Finance
    • Finance: Finance State Government Division
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Bill Referral (Chair)
    • Rules and Administration: Committees
    • Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules (Chair)
    • Rules and Administration: Personnel
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader
    Reason for unfinished term: Elected to other office
    Session Notes: He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in the Nov. 8, 1994 elections.

    77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1991
    Body: Senate
    District: 47
    Elected: 11/6/1990
    Residence: Brooklyn Park
    Term of Office: 1/7/1991 to 1/3/1993
    Oath Date: 1/8/1991
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Commerce
    • Commerce: Insurance (Chair)
    • Elections and Ethics
    • Finance
    • Finance: Economic and State Affairs Division
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Civil Law Division
    • Redistricting
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Bill Referral (Chair)
    • Rules and Administration: Capitol Renovation
    • Rules and Administration: Committees
    • Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules (Chair)
    • Rules and Administration: Personnel
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    76th Legislative Session (1989-1990) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1989
    Body: Senate
    District: 47
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Brooklyn Park
    Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
    Oath Date: 1/6/1987
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Commerce
    • Commerce: Insurance (Chair)
    • Elections and Ethics
    • Finance
    • Finance: State Departments Division
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Civil Law Division
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Bill Referral (Chair)
    • Rules and Administration: Capitol Renovation
    • Rules and Administration: Committees
    • Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules (Chair)
    • Rules and Administration: Personnel
    • Rules and Administration: Senate Budget
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader

    75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1987
    Body: Senate
    District: 47
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Brooklyn Park
    Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
    Oath Date: 1/6/1987
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Commerce
    • Commerce: Insurance (Chair)
    • Elections and Ethics
    • Finance
    • Finance: State Departments Division
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Civil Law Division
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Bill Referral (Chair)
    • Rules and Administration: Capitol Renovation
    • Rules and Administration: Committees
    • Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules (Chair)
    • Rules and Administration: Personnel
    • Rules and Administration: Senate Budget
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    74th Legislative Session (1985-1986) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1985
    Body: Senate
    District: 47
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Brooklyn Park
    Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
    Oath Date: 1/4/1983
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Economic Development and Commerce
    • Economic Development and Commerce: Insurance (Chair)
    • Elections and Ethics
    • Finance
    • Finance: State Departments
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Civil Law
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Bill Referral (Chair)
    • Rules and Administration: Bill Scheduling
    • Rules and Administration: Committees
    • Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules (Chair)
    • Rules and Administration: Personnel
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1983
    Body: Senate
    District: 47
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Brooklyn Park
    Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
    Oath Date: 1/4/1983
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Economic Development and Commerce
    • Economic Development and Commerce: Insurance (Chair)
    • Elections and Ethics
    • Finance
    • Finance: State Departments
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Civil Law
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Bill Referral (Chair)
    • Rules and Administration: Bill Scheduling
    • Rules and Administration: Committees
    • Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules (Chair)
    • Rules and Administration: Personnel
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1981
    Body: Senate
    District: 45
    Elected: 11/4/1980
    Residence: Brooklyn Park
    Term of Office: 1/5/1981 to 1/2/1983
    Oath Date: 1/6/1981
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection (Chair)
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Public Land and Water Resources
    • Commerce
    • Commerce: Insurance
    • Finance
    • Finance: State Departments (Chair)
    term photo
    Click to view

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

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1979
    Body: Senate
    District: 45
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Brooklyn Park
    Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
    Oath Date: 1/4/1977
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agriculture
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection (Chair)
    • Commerce
    • Commerce: Consumer Protection
    • Employment
    • Employment: Labor
    • Finance
    • Finance: Joint Claims
    • Finance: State Departments
    • Transportation: Pipelines-1979

    70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1977
    Body: Senate
    District: 45
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Brooklyn Center
    Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
    Oath Date: 1/4/1977
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agriculture
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection (Chair)
    • Employment
    • Employment: Labor
    • Finance
    • Finance: Joint Claims
    • Finance: Semi-State and Transportation
    term photo
    Click to view

    69th Legislative Session (1975-1976)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1975
    Body: House
    District: 45B
    Elected: 11/5/1974
    Residence: Brooklyn Center
    Term of Office: 1/6/1975 to 1/2/1977
    Oath Date: 1/7/1975
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Environment and Natural Resources
    • Judiciary

    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

    Senator William Luther testifies during a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1988. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..
    Senators Ron Dicklich, William Luther, Allan Spear, Roger Moe, and Duane Benson read a bill during a Senate floor session, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1988. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..
    Senator Bill Luther, Senator Duane Benson, and Senator Roger Moe talk on the Senate floor, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1983-1986. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..
    Senator William Luther, Senator Roger Moe, and Senator James Ulland examine a bill during a Senate floor session, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1981-1984. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..

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