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    French, George A. "Geo. A., Silver Fox"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1941-62 (District 33); House 1963-66 (District 37)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

    Counties Served:  Hennepin

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 3/19/1901
    Birth Place: Hartford, Connecticut
    Birth County:
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 2/8/1992
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Methodist
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Geo. A., Silver Fox
    City of Residence (when first elected): Minneapolis
    Occupation (when first elected): Practicing Attorney

    EDUCATION

    West High School, Minneapolis; Secondary; Graduate
    University of Minnesota; College Graduate; Engineering
    University of Minnesota, Law School; Law Degree; Admitted to the Bar, 1925

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Loretta or Loretto Salmon (married in 1924, she died in 1984)
    Children: Two children: Jean Ann, and Susan (daughters)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was a member of the Republican Party.

    "After joining the Republican Party, he served as a ward and district chairman of the Young Republicans from 1936-1939." (St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 9, 1992, p. 5B)

    "He has been active in the Republican party, serving in various offices including roles as delegate to county and state conventions." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. George A. French." Minneapolis Star, Between November 1956-January 1957)

    "Although he served when legislators were elected without party designation, he was a member of the House's Conservative caucus." (Fergus Falls Daily Journal, February 10, 1992)

    He died from a heart attack at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Hennepin County, Minnesota. His funeral was held at Werness Brothers Funeral Chapel in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was buried in Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

    Religion reported in Minneapolis Star, December 31, 1960.

    Most recent term photo
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    Total Days Served: 9492

    SESSIONS SERVED

    64th Legislative Session (1965-1966)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 37
    Elected: 11/3/1964
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/5/1965 to 1/2/1967
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration (Chair)
    • Employees Compensation
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary
    • Rules
    • Taxes

    63rd Legislative Session (1963-1964)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 37
    Elected: 11/6/1962
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/4/1965
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration (Chair)
    • Employees Compensation
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary
    • Rules
    • Taxes
    term photo
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    62nd Legislative Session (1961-1962)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 33
    Elected: 11/8/1960
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/3/1961 to 1/7/1963
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Employees Compensation
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary
    • Taxes

    61st Legislative Session (1959-1960)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 33
    Elected: 11/4/1958
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/6/1959 to 1/2/1961
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: None Listed
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Cities of the First and Second Class
    • Civil Administration
    • Employees Compensation
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary
    • Taxes

    60th Legislative Session (1957-1958)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 33
    Elected: 11/6/1956
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/8/1957 to 1/5/1959
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: None Listed
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: "He has been active in the Republican party, serving in various offices including roles as delegate to county and state conventions." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. George A. French." Minneapolis Star, Between November 1956-January 1957)
    Committees:
    • Cities of the First and Second Class
    • Civil Administration
    • Employees Compensation
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary
    • Taxes
    term photo
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    59th Legislative Session (1955-1956)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 33
    Elected: 11/2/1954
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 1/7/1957
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Cities of the First and Second Class
    • Employees Compensation
    • Insurance
    • Public Domain
    • Reapportionment

    58th Legislative Session (1953-1954)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 33
    Elected: 11/5/1952
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/6/1953 to 1/3/1955
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Employees Compensation
    • Health
    • Insurance (Chair)
    • Judiciary
    • Rules
    • Taxes

    57th Legislative Session (1951-1952)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 33
    Elected: 11/7/1950
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/2/1951 to 1/5/1953
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Employees Compensation
    • Health
    • Insurance (Chair)
    • Judiciary
    • Rules
    • Taxes
    Leadership Position: Majority Whip
    Leadership Notes: His obituary says he served as Majority Whip for the conservative coalition under Rep. Roy Dunn in the 1950s. ("Former State Legislator George A. French Dies." St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 9, 1992, p. 5B)
    term photo
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    56th Legislative Session (1949-1950)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 33
    Elected: 11/2/1948
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/4/1949 to 1/1/1951
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Employees Compensation
    • Health
    • Insurance (Chair)
    • Judiciary
    • Rules
    term photo
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    55th Legislative Session (1947-1948)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 33
    Elected: 11/5/1946
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/3/1949
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Employees Compensation
    • Health
    • Insurance (Chair)
    • Rules

    54th Legislative Session (1945-1946)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 33
    Elected: 11/7/1944
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/2/1945 to 1/6/1947
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Employees Compensation
    • Health (Chair)
    • Insurance
    • Rules
    term photo
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    53rd Legislative Session (1943-1944)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 33
    Elected: 11/3/1942
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/5/1943 to 1/1/1945
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • General Legislation
    • Health
    • Insurance
    • Workmens and Unemployment Compensation
    term photo
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    52nd Legislative Session (1941-1942)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 33
    Elected: 11/5/1940
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/7/1941 to 1/4/1943
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Practicing Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: "Although he served when legislators were elected without party designation, he was a member of the House's Conservative caucus." (Fergus Falls Daily Journal, February 10, 1992)
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • General Legislation
    • Insurance
    • Motor Vehicles and Motor Tax Laws
    • Public Health and Hospitals
    term photo
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    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    "Author of State's No-Strike Law Dies (Obituary)." Fergus Falls Daily Journal, February 10, 1992.

    George French, Public Servant (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 10, 1992.

    "Former State Legislator George A. French Dies (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 9, 1992, p. 5B.

    "Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. George A. French." Minneapolis Star, Between November 1956-January 1957.


    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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