Senate 1941-46 (District 60)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Counties Served:
St. Louis
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
8/17/1911
Birth Place:
Chisholm, Minnesota
Birth County:
St. Louis
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
12/17/1991
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Chisholm
Occupation (when first elected):
High School Chemistry Teacher, Chisholm/Educational Administrator, St. Louis County Schools
EDUCATION
Chisholm Public Schools; Elementary School;
Chisholm High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1929
University of Chicago; Attended College; Summer 1938
State Teachers College, Winona; B.E.; With Distinction, June 1935
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; Attended Graduate School; Minneapolis Campus, Public Administration, 1941-42
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
U.S. Executive Branch:
United States Civilian Conservation Corps, Minnesota (Superior National Forest);
1935 to 1937
School Board/Administration:
St. Louis County, Minnesota (Assistant Superintendent of Schools);
1939 to 1941
Military:
United States Army Air Forces/Corps and the Office of Strategic Services (World War II, Served Overseas, Yugoslavia and Italy; Lieutenant and Captain, Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal Recipient);
08/1942 to 01/1946
U.S. Representative:
8th Congressional District, Minnesota;
01/03/1947 to 12/31/1974
[Elected]
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Single (while in office); Gisela Hager (married on April 9, 1955; divorced); Evelyn Castiglioni (second wife)
Children:
Three children (with his first wife, after he left office): Thomas H., Stephanie, and Valerie
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
He was of Yugoslavian ancestry.
He was on active military duty during the 1943 session.
"He championed liberal politics." (Minneapolis Star Tribune, December 18, 1991)
He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party when he served in the United States Congress.
The John A. Blatnik bridge between between Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin was named after him in September 1971.
He died, from heart failure, at home in Forest Heights, Maryland.