Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature
Skip Navigation Links > >

Keith, Alexander MacDonald "Sandy, A.M."

Senate 1959-62 (District 4)

Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

Counties Served:  Olmsted

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 11/22/1928
Birth Place: Rochester, Minnesota
Birth County: Olmsted
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 10/3/2020
Gender: Male
Religion: Unitarian Universalist
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names: Sandy, A.M.
City of Residence (when first elected): Rochester
Occupation (when first elected): Attorney, Section of Administration, Mayo Clinic

EDUCATION

Rochester Public Schools; Secondary; Graduate
Amherst College, Massachusetts; College Graduate; Political Science, Magna Cum Laude, 1950
Yale Law School; LL.B.; 1953

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Human Rights and Fair Employment Practices Commission; [Dates Unknown]
Military: United States Marine Corps (Korea, Officer/1st Lieutenant); 1953 to 1955
State Lieutenant Governor: Minnesota; 01/08/1963 to 01/02/1967 [Elected]
Judge: Minnesota Supreme Court (Associate Justice); 02/01/1989 to 1990 [Appointed]
Judge: Minnesota Supreme Court (Chief Justice); 1990 to 1998 [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Marion Sanford
Children: Two children: Ian and Douglas (sons)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He is believed to be the first person to serve in all three branches of Minnesota state government. (Star Tribune 7/7/1990)

He sought and lost the Democratic-Farmer-Labor primary endorsement for Governor of Minnesota in 1966.

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

He received the Rochester Junior Chamber of Commerce award as Outstanding Man of 1959.

He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

He was a star football player and New England wrestling champ while at Amherst College in Massachusetts.

Religion provided by the Star Tribune, July 7, 1990.

Total Days Served: 1463

SESSIONS SERVED

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

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1961
Body: Senate
District: 04
Elected: 11/4/1958
Residence: Rochester
Term of Office: 1/5/1959 to 1/6/1963
Oath Date: 1/6/1959
Counties Represented: Olmsted
Occupation: Attorney, Law Firm of Eustis and Keith
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Game and Fish
  • Judiciary
  • Public Welfare
Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

61st Legislative Session (1959-1960)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1959
Body: Senate
District: 04
Elected: 11/4/1958
Residence: Rochester
Term of Office: 1/5/1959 to 1/6/1963
Oath Date: 1/6/1959
Counties Represented: Olmsted
Occupation: Attorney, Section of Administration, Mayo Clinic
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
  • Game and Fish
  • Judiciary
  • Public Welfare

Articles & Books About

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.