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    Holmquist, Sr., Stanley Willard "Stan"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1947-54 (District 26); Senate 1955-62 (District 26); Senate 1963-72 (District 16)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

    Counties Served:  Meeker, Renville, Wright

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 8/23/1909
    Birth Place: Hallock, Minnesota
    Birth County: Kittson
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 5/15/2003
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Lutheran
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Stan
    City of Residence (when first elected): Grove City
    Occupation (when first elected): Retail Lumber Dealer/Superintendent and Principal, Grove City Schools/Former High School Math Teacher, Grove City Schools

    EDUCATION

    Minnehaha Academy High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1932
    Augustana Lutheran Synod Minnesota College; Attended College;
    University of Minnesota; B.S.; 1936
    University of Minnesota; M.A.; Educational Administration, 1940

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    U.S. Executive Branch: National Conference on Employment of the Handicapped, Washington D.C.; [Dates Unknown]
    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Commission on the Problems of Mentally Retarded, Handicapped and Gifted Children; 19?? to 196? [Appointed]
    School Board/Administration: Grove City, Minnesota (Superintendent of Schools); 1939 to 06/20/1946
    U.S. Executive Branch: White House Conference on Education (Minnesota Representative); 11/1966 to ?

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Edith Maria Johnson Holmquist (married on October 28, 1938; her sister, Eleanor A. Johnson Andersen, was married to Minnesota Governor Elmer Lee Andersen; she died in February 2003) )
    Children: Three children: Stanley "Willard" Jr., and Charles "Charlie" (sons); Mary (she served as a Senate Page in 1965) (daughter)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    Elmer Lee Andersen  - Brother-in-Law
    Victor Holmquist  - Father

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was born and raised on a wheat farm.

    He was instumental in getting the bill known as the Minnesota Miracle passed. It moved more school funding to the state and away from property taxes.

    He was a member of the Republican Party.

    "Republican leaders who have long been out in the cold when it comes to the senate independent conservatives should be happy with Holmquist, an active Republican and one-time Sixth District GOP chairman." (Wilson, Betty. "Holmquist Not in Rosenmeier Circle." Minneapolis Newspaper, 1967)

    Both Rep. Lloyd L. Duxbury, Speaker of the House, and Sen. Stanley W. Holmquist, Senate Majority Leader, were appointed to the Republican State Central Committee in 1968. "GOP leaders said it is the first time in the party's history that the two leadership positions in the legislature have been represented on the Central Committee." (St. Paul Dispatch, January 6, 1968)

    "On the other hand, Holmquist is a Republican party man and works closely with the governor." (Patterson, Lewis. "Sen. Stanley Holmquist." St. Paul Pioneer Press, January 5, 1969, p. 2)

    He died from leukemia at a nursing home in Bloomington, Minnesota. His funeral was held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Grove City, Minnesota.

    He was a member of Augustana Lutheran Church in Grove City, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by Memorable Reflections: Stanley W. Holmquist.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 9492

    SESSIONS SERVED

    67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 16
    Elected: 11/3/1970
    Residence: Grove City
    Term of Office: 1/5/1971 to 1/1/1973
    Counties Represented: Meeker, Renville, Wright
    Occupation: Retail Lumber Merchant
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Committees
    • Education
    • Higher Education
    • Labor Relations
    • Rules and Administration (Chair)
    Leadership Position: Majority Leader

    66th Legislative Session (1969-1970) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 16
    Elected: 11/8/1966
    Residence: Grove City
    Term of Office: 1/3/1967 to 1/4/1971
    Counties Represented: Meeker, Renville, Wright
    Occupation: Retail Lumber Merchant
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: "Republican leaders who have long been out in the cold when it comes to the senate independent conservatives should be happy with Holmquist, an active Republican and one-time Sixth District GOP chairman." (Wilson, Betty. "Holmquist Not in Rosenmeier Circle." Minneapolis Newspaper, 1967); Both Rep. Lloyd L. Duxbury, Speaker of the House, and Sen. Stanley W. Holmquist, Senate Majority Leader, were appointed to the Republican State Central Committee in 1968. "GOP leaders said it is the first time in the party's history that the two leadership positions in the legislature have been represented on the Central Committee." (St. Paul Dispatch, January 6, 1968); "On the other hand, Holmquist is a Republican party man and works closely with the governor." (Patterson, Lewis. "Sen. Stanley Holmquist." St. Paul Pioneer Press, January 5, 1969, p. 2)
    Committees:
    • Committees
    • Education
    • Labor
    • Rules and Legislative Expense (Chair)
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    Leadership Position: Majority Leader
    term photo
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    65th Legislative Session (1967-1968)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 16
    Elected: 11/8/1966
    Residence: Grove City
    Term of Office: 1/3/1967 to 1/4/1971
    Counties Represented: Meeker, Renville, Wright
    Occupation: Retail Lumber Merchant
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: "Republican leaders who have long been out in the cold when it comes to the senate independent conservatives should be happy with Holmquist, an active Republican and one-time Sixth District GOP chairman." (Wilson, Betty. "Holmquist Not in Rosenmeier Circle." Minneapolis Newspaper, 1967); Both Rep. Lloyd L. Duxbury, Speaker of the House, and Sen. Stanley W. Holmquist, Senate Majority Leader, were appointed to the Republican State Central Committee in 1968. "GOP leaders said it is the first time in the party's history that the two leadership positions in the legislature have been represented on the Central Committee." (St. Paul Dispatch, January 6, 1968)
    Committees:
    • Committees
    • Education
    • Labor
    • Rules and Legislative Expense (Chair)
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    Leadership Position: Majority Leader

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

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 16
    Elected: 11/6/1962
    Residence: Grove City
    Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/2/1967
    Counties Represented: Meeker, Renville
    Occupation: Retail Lumber Merchant
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Education
    • General Legislation (Chair)
    • Labor
    • Military Affairs and Civil Defense
    • Rules and Legislative Expense
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Towns and Counties

    63rd Legislative Session (1963-1964)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 16
    Elected: 11/6/1962
    Residence: Grove City
    Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/2/1967
    Counties Represented: Meeker, Renville
    Occupation: Retail Lumber Merchant
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Education
    • General Legislation (Chair)
    • Labor
    • Military Affairs and Civil Defense
    • Rules and Legislative Expense
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Towns and Counties
    term photo
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    62nd Legislative Session (1961-1962) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 26
    Elected: 11/4/1958
    Residence: Grove City
    Term of Office: 1/6/1959 to 1/7/1963
    Counties Represented: Meeker
    Occupation: Retail Lumber Merchant
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Education
    • Labor
    • Local Government
    • Taxes and Tax Laws

    61st Legislative Session (1959-1960)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 26
    Elected: 11/4/1958
    Residence: Grove City
    Term of Office: 1/6/1959 to 1/7/1963
    Counties Represented: Meeker
    Occupation: Retail Lumber Merchant
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Education
    • Labor
    • Local Government
    • Taxes

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

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 26
    Elected: 11/2/1954
    Residence: Grove City
    Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 1/5/1959
    Counties Represented: Meeker
    Occupation: Retail Lumber Merchant
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Education
    • General Legislation
    • Markets and Marketing
    • Public Institutions and Buildings
    • Towns and Counties
    • University
    term photo
    Click to view

    59th Legislative Session (1955-1956)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 26
    Elected: 11/2/1954
    Residence: Grove City
    Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 1/5/1959
    Counties Represented: Meeker
    Occupation: Retail Lumber Merchant
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Education
    • General Legislation
    • Markets and Marketing
    • Public Institutions and Buildings
    • Towns and Counties
    • University

    58th Legislative Session (1953-1954)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 26
    Elected: 11/5/1952
    Residence: Grove City
    Term of Office: 1/6/1953 to 1/3/1955
    Counties Represented: Meeker
    Occupation: Retail Lumber Dealer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Education (Chair)
    • Elections
    • Municipal Affairs
    • Rules
    • Taxes

    57th Legislative Session (1951-1952)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 26
    Elected: 11/7/1950
    Residence: Grove City
    Term of Office: 1/2/1951 to 1/5/1953
    Counties Represented: Meeker
    Occupation: Retail Lumber Dealer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Education (Chair)
    • Elections
    • Municipal Affairs
    • Rules
    • Taxes
    term photo
    Click to view

    56th Legislative Session (1949-1950)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 26
    Elected: 11/2/1948
    Residence: Grove City
    Term of Office: 1/4/1949 to 1/1/1951
    Counties Represented: Meeker
    Occupation: Retail Lumber Dealer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Education
    • General Legislation
    • Municipal Affairs
    • Taxes
    • Welfare
    term photo
    Click to view

    55th Legislative Session (1947-1948)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 26
    Elected: 11/5/1946
    Residence: Grove City
    Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/3/1949
    Counties Represented: Meeker
    Occupation: Retail Lumber Dealer/Superintendent and Principal, Grove City Schools/Former High School Math Teacher, Grove City Schools
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Employees Compensation
    • Municipal Affairs
    • Taxes

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books By
    Holmquist, Stanley W. Memorable Reflections: Education is the Life of Democracy. Minnesota: Self Published, 2001. (F605 .H65 2001)

    Holmquist, Stanley W. "One House, One Vote (Letter to the Editor)." Minneapolis Star Tribune, January 14, 1998.


    Articles & Books About
    Dornfeld, Steven. "Stanley Holmquist, a Courtly Conservative Who Brought Us Together (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, May 20, 2003.

    "Stan Holmquist, a Leader Devoted to Education (Obituary)." Minneapolis Star Tribune, May 17, 2003.

    Hahn, Trudi. "Ex-Legislator Stanley Holmquist Dies at 93 (Obituary)." Minneapolis Star Tribune, May 17, 2003.

    Salisbury, Bill. "A Legislative Legend. Ex-Majority Leader Holmquist Dies (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, May 17, 2003, p. 1B, 6B.

    "10 Titans of the Minnesota Senate, 1950-2000." Law and Politics, April-May 2001, p. 25.

    Dornfeld, Steven. "Minnesota Lawmakers Should Curtail Activity in Even-Year Legislative Sessions." St. Paul Pioneer Press, January 8, 2001.

    Sturdevant, Lori. "An Architect of 'Minnesota Miracle' is Rooting for Another One." Minneapolis Star Tribune, December 28, 2000, p. A23.

    Dornfeld, Steven. "Legislature's Opening Day 20 Years Ago Hard to Top for Political Chaos." St. Paul Pioneer Press, January 6, 1991.

    Patterson, Lewis. "Sen. Stanley Holmquist." St. Paul Pioneer Press, January 5, 1969, p. 1-2.

    O'Keefe, Robert. "House, Senate Chiefs Named to GOP Panel." St. Paul Dispatch, January 6, 1968.

    O'Keefe, Robert J. "Annual Legislature Due for Study." St. Paul Pioneer Press, December 31, 1967.

    "Minnehaha Men in State Government." Minnehaha Academy Arrow, January 1967.

    Wilson, Betty. "Holmquist Not in Rosenmeier Circle." Minneapolis Newspaper, 1967.

    “Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Sen. Holmquist." Minneapolis Star, January? 1961.

    Stanley W. Holmquist Profile, Source Unknown, 1955? and 1957?


    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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