Minnesota Legislative Reference Library

Accessibility menu

Menu

Minnesota Legislative Reference Library Legislators Past & Present

Library Navigation

Skip Navigation LinksLegislature > LRL Home > Legislators Past & Present > Member Record New Search

Hansen, Melvin E. "Mel"

Sessions Served  red ball graphic  Other Information

Click to enlarge

Map of Minneapolis
Minneapolis, MN

Senate 1963-72 (District 34); Senate 1973-76 (District 61)

Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Counties Served:  Hennepin

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: ??/??/1915 Date of Death: 08/29/1994
Birth Place: Russell, Minnesota Birth County: Lyon Birth Country: United States
Other Names: Mel
Gender:  Male Religion:  Lutheran
City of Residence (when first elected):  Minneapolis

Occupation (when first elected):  Manager, Careers Employment

EDUCATION

Russell High School; Secondary; Graduate
University of Minnesota; B.A.; Economics, 1940

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Board/Commission/CouncilMinnesota Governor's Commission for Employment of Handicapped, Employers Committee ??/??/19?? to ??/??/19??
State Board/Commission/CouncilMinnesota Governor's Crime Commission, Information Systems Committee ??/??/19?? to ??/??/19??
MilitaryUnited States Navy (World War II, European Theatre, Battleship) ??/??/1944 to ??/??/1946

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Ethel Long (married in 1937, she died in 1984)
Children: Three children: Kerry (son); Sharon, and Judith (daughters)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

"Hansen was an Independent-Republican..." (Star Tribune Obituary, August 31, 1994)

He died at the Martin Luther Manor in Bloomington, Minnesota. His funeral was held at St. Peder's Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

He was a member of St. Peder's Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975.

Legislative Session: 69th (1975-1976) (second half of Senate term)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/7/1972 Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/3/1977
District: 61 Residence: Minneapolis
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: President, Careers, Inc.; Personnel Counselling and Placement
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Independent Republican Caucus
Committees:
Finance
Finance Subcommittee: Education
Finance Subcommittee: State Departments II
Governmental Operations
Governmental Operations Subcommittee: Pensions and Retirement
Transportation and General Legislation
Transportation and General Legislation Subcommittee: Elections
Session Notes: His margin of victory over Wesley J. Skoglund was only 32 votes so a recount occurred. After the recount he was declared the winner by 28 votes.
Legislative Session: 68th (1973-1974)   Session Details term photo
Click to enlarge
Body: Senate Elected: 11/7/1972 Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/3/1977
District: 61 Residence: Minneapolis
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: President, Careers, Inc.; Personnel Counselling and Placement
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: "Hansen was an Independent-Republican..." (Star Tribune Obituary, August 31, 1994)
Committees:
Finance
Finance Subcommittee: Education
Finance Subcommittee: Natural Resources, Highways and Semi-State
Governmental Operations
Governmental Operations Subcommittee: Pensions and Retirement
Transportation and General Legislation
Transportation and General Legislation Subcommittee: Elections
Session Notes: His margin of victory over Wesley J. Skoglund was only 32 votes so a recount occurred. After the recount he was declared the winner by 28 votes.
Legislative Session: 67th (1971-1972)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/3/1970 Term of Office: 1/5/1971 to 1/1/1973
District: 34 Residence: Minneapolis
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: President, Careers, Inc.; Personnel Counselling and Placement
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: "Hansen was an Independent-Republican..." (Star Tribune Obituary, August 31, 1994)
Committees:
Civil Administration
Education
Elections and Reapportionment
Finance
General Legislation
Pensions and Retirement (Chair)
Rules and Administration
Legislative Session: 66th (1969-1970) (second half of Senate term)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/8/1966 Term of Office: 1/3/1967 to 1/4/1971
District: 34 Residence: Minneapolis
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: President, Careers, Inc.; Personnel Placement and Counselling
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: "Hansen was an Independent-Republican..." (Star Tribune Obituary, August 31, 1994)
Committees:
Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs
Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs Subcommittee: Pensions and Retirement Division (Chair)
Education
Elections and Reapportionment
Finance
General Legislation
Legislative Session: 65th (1967-1968)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/8/1966 Term of Office: 1/3/1967 to 1/4/1971
District: 34 Residence: Minneapolis
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: President, Careers Inc.; Personnel Placement and Recruiting
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: "Hansen was an Independent-Republican..." (Star Tribune Obituary, August 31, 1994)
Committees:
Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs
Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs Subcommittee: Pensions and Retirement Division (Chair)
Education
Election and Reapportionment
Finance
General Legislation
Legislative Session: 64th (1965-1966) (second half of Senate term)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/6/1962 Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/2/1967
District: 34 Residence: Minneapolis
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Co-owner, Career's Inc.; Personnel Placement and Recruiting
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: "Hansen was an Independent-Republican..." (Star Tribune Obituary, August 31, 1994)
Committees:
Cities of the First Class
Education
Elections and Reapportionment
General Legislation
Municipal Affairs
Legislative Session: 63rd (1963-1964)   Session Details term photo
Click to enlarge
Body: Senate Elected: 11/6/1962 Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/2/1967
District: 34 Residence: Minneapolis
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Manager, Careers Employment
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: "Hansen was an Independent-Republican..." (Star Tribune Obituary, August 31, 1994)
Committees:
Cities of the First Class
Education
Elections and Reapportionment
General Legislation
Municipal Affairs

OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About
"Mel Hansen, Senator from Minneapolis for 14 Years (Obituary)." Star Tribune, August 31, 1994, p. 7B.




The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.

Name Search
Other Searches

Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, 645 State Office Building, Saint Paul, MN  55155