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    Zwach, Sr., John Matthew

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1935-46 (District 14); Senate 1947-62 (District 14); Senate 1963-66 (District 17)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election

    Counties Served:  Brown, Redwood

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 2/8/1907
    Birth Place: Gales Township, Minnesota
    Birth County: Redwood
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 11/11/1990
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Lucan
    Occupation (when first elected): Principal, Lucan School/Former Rural School Teacher/Farmer

    EDUCATION

    Redwood County Rural Schools; Elementary School;
    Milroy High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1926
    Mankato State Teachers College; Teaching certificate; 1926-28
    University of Minnesota; B.A.; Government, Political Science and Educational Administration; 1933

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    School Board/Administration: Milroy, Minnesota (Superintendent of Schools); 1946 to 1948
    U.S. Representative: 6th Congressional District, Minnesota; 01/03/1967 to 01/03/1975 [Elected]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Agnes Schuller (married on June 3, 1940)
    Children: Five children: Marie, Ann, and Barbara (daughters); John Jr. and Dennis (sons)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    Barbara Sykora  - Daughter

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was born on a farm in Redwood County.

    He was one of eleven children.

    He was of Czechoslavakian and Austrian ancestry.

    He was a member of the Republican Party.

    He was the chief author of the bill to create Southwest Minnesota State University.

    Milroy and Wabasso are also listed as post office addresses for him.

    He was a member of Phi Delta Kappa.

    He died of lung cancer at Redwood Falls Municipal Hospital in Minnesota. His funeral was held at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Lucan, Minnesota. He was buried in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery in Milroy, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by Who's Who in Minnesota, 1958 and his obituary.

    Most recent term photo
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    Total Days Served: 11683

    SESSIONS SERVED

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

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 17
    Elected: 11/6/1962
    Residence: Walnut Grove
    Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/2/1967
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
    Occupation: Farmer, Cattle Feeder Operation
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Committees
    • Education
    • Game and Fish
    • Public Highways
    • Rules and Legislative Expense (Chair)
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    Leadership Position: Majority Leader

    63rd Legislative Session (1963-1964)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 17
    Elected: 11/6/1962
    Residence: Walnut Grove
    Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/2/1967
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
    Occupation: Farmer, Cattle Feeder Operation/Former Principal, Lucan School/Former Rural School Teacher
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Committees
    • Education
    • Game and Fish
    • Public Highways
    • Rules and Legislative Expense (Chair)
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    Leadership Position: Majority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    62nd Legislative Session (1961-1962) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/4/1958
    Residence: Walnut Grove
    Term of Office: 1/6/1959 to 1/7/1963
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
    Occupation: Farmer, Cattle Feeder Operation
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Committees
    • Education
    • Elections and Reapportionment
    • Game and Fish
    • Public Highways
    • Rules and Legislative Expense (Chair)
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    Leadership Position: Majority Leader

    61st Legislative Session (1959-1960)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/4/1958
    Residence: Walnut Grove
    Term of Office: 1/6/1959 to 1/7/1963
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
    Occupation: School Teacher, Principal and Superintendent
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Committees
    • Education
    • Elections and Reapportionment
    • Game and Fish
    • Public Highways
    • Rules and Legislative Expense (Chair)
    • Taxes
    Leadership Position: Majority Leader

    60th Legislative Session (1957-1958) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/2/1954
    Residence: Walnut Grove
    Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 1/5/1959
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
    Occupation: School Teacher, Principal and Superintendent
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Dairy Products and Livestock
    • Education (Chair)
    • Finance
    • Game and Fish
    • Public Highways
    • Rules and Legislative Expense
    • Towns and Counties
    term photo
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    59th Legislative Session (1955-1956)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/2/1954
    Residence: Walnut Grove
    Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 1/5/1959
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
    Occupation: School Teacher, Principal and Superintendent
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Dairy Products and Livestock
    • Education (Chair)
    • Finance
    • Game and Fish
    • Public Highways
    • Rules and Legislative Expense
    • Towns and Counties

    58th Legislative Session (1953-1954) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/7/1950
    Residence: Walnut Grove
    Term of Office: 1/2/1951 to 1/3/1955
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
    Occupation: School Teacher, Principal and Superintendent
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Dairy Products and Livestock
    • Education
    • Finance
    • Game and Fish
    • Public Highways
    • Reapportionment (Chair)
    • Towns and Counties

    57th Legislative Session (1951-1952)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/7/1950
    Residence: Walnut Grove
    Term of Office: 1/2/1951 to 1/3/1955
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
    Occupation: School Teacher, Principal and Superintendent
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Dairy Products and Livestock
    • Education
    • Finance
    • Game and Fish
    • Public Highways
    • Public Institutions and Buildings
    • Towns and Counties
    term photo
    Click to view

    56th Legislative Session (1949-1950) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/5/1946
    Residence: Walnut Grove
    Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/1/1951
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
    Occupation: Farmer/Superintendent of Schools, Milroy
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Dairy Products and Live Stock
    • Education
    • Soldiers Welfare and Soldiers Home
    • Telephone and Telegraph
    • Towns and Counties
    • University
    term photo
    Click to view

    55th Legislative Session (1947-1948)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/5/1946
    Residence: Walnut Grove
    Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/1/1951
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
    Occupation: Farmer/Superintendent of Schools, Milroy
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Dairy Products and Live Stock
    • Education
    • Soldiers Welfare and Soldiers Home
    • Telephone and Telegraph
    • Towns and Counties
    • University

    54th Legislative Session (1945-1946)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/7/1944
    Residence: Walnut Grove
    Term of Office: 1/2/1945 to 1/6/1947
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Dairy Products and Livestock
    • Education
    • Reapportionment
    • Taxes
    term photo
    Click to view

    53rd Legislative Session (1943-1944)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/3/1942
    Residence: Walnut Grove
    Term of Office: 1/5/1943 to 1/1/1945
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
    Occupation: Farmer/School Teacher and Principal
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Dairy Products and Livestock
    • Education
    • Reapportionment
    • Taxes
    term photo
    Click to view

    52nd Legislative Session (1941-1942)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/5/1940
    Residence: Walnut Grove
    Term of Office: 1/7/1941 to 1/4/1943
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
    Occupation: Former Teacher and Principal/General Farming
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Dairy Products and Livestock
    • Education
    • Public Welfare
    • Taxes
    term photo
    Click to view

    51st Legislative Session (1939-1940)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/8/1938
    Residence: Walnut Grove
    Term of Office: 1/3/1939 to 1/6/1941
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
    Occupation: Former School Teacher and Principal/General Farming
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Aviation
    • Dairy Products and Livestock
    • Education
    • Liquor Control
    • Public Welfare
    term photo
    Click to view

    50th Legislative Session (1937-1938)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/3/1936
    Residence: Lucan
    Term of Office: 1/5/1937 to 1/2/1939
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
    Occupation: Principal, Lucan School/Former Rural School Teacher
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Horticulture
    • Appropriations
    • Banks and Banking
    • Cooperatives and Cooperation
    • Education
    • Emergency Relief
    • Military Affairs (Chair)
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    term photo
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    49th Legislative Session (1935-1936)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/6/1934
    Residence: Lucan
    Term of Office: 1/8/1935 to 1/4/1937
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
    Occupation: Principal, Lucan School/Former Rural School Teacher/Farmer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Corporations
    • Education
    • Game and Fish
    • Markets and Marketing
    • Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Tax Laws
    • Public Highways
    • State and County Fairs
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    Dunn, Ruth. "Like Father, Like Son/Daughter: Legislative Service is Family Affair for Six Members." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 22, 2005, p. 20.

    "A True Statesman. Family, Politicians Gather at SMSU to Honor the Late John Zwach." Marshall Independent, October 18, 2003, p. 1A, 7A.

    Lonergan, Tom. "In Their Blood: 16 Legislators Have a Family Connection to Previous Members of the House and Senate." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 7, 2003, p. 16-17.

    Pheifer, Pat. "Ex-Rep. John Zwach, Who Looked Out for Rural Minnesota, Dies at 83." Minneapolis Star Tribune, November 12, 1990, p. 1A, 6A.

    "Zwach, John Matthew." Who's Who in Minnesota, 1958, p. 431.

    Zwach, John Matthew. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.


    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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