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    Gustafson, Earl B.

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1963-66 (District 60); House 1969-70 (District 60); Senate 1971-72 (District 60)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

    Counties Served:  St. Louis

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 9/27/1927
    Birth Place: Duluth, Minnesota
    Birth County: St. Louis
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 4/16/2018
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Duluth
    Occupation (when first elected): Lawyer

    EDUCATION

    Central High School, Duluth; Secondary; 1945
    University of Minnesota, Duluth; Attended College;
    Gustavus Adolphus College; B.S.; Business and Economics, 1950
    University of Colorado; Attended Graduate School;
    University of Minnesota, Law School; LL.B.; 1954

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Military: United States Navy; 1945 to 1946
    Judge: Duluth, Minnesota (Special Municipal Judge); 1961 to 1962
    Judge: Minnesota Tax Court; 03/1973 to 02/1974 [Appointed]
    Judge: Minnesota Tax Court (Chief Judge, 1993-1994); 07/1975 to 01/1995 [Appointed]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Donna Marie Larsen
    Children: Eight children: Kim, Mary, Sarah, Katie, Ben, Joseph, Brad, Peter.
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    James Gustafson  - Brother
    Ben E. Gustafson  - Son

    GENERAL NOTES

    He ran for the DFL endorsement as Attorney General in the 1966 election.

    He ran unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives in the 1974 election.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 2912

    SESSIONS SERVED

    67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 60
    Elected: 11/3/1970
    Residence: Duluth
    Term of Office: 1/5/1971 to 1/1/1973
    Counties Represented: St. Louis
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Higher Education
    • Judiciary
    • Urban Affairs

    66th Legislative Session (1969-1970)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 60
    Elected: 11/5/1968
    Residence: Duluth
    Term of Office: 1/7/1969 to 1/4/1971
    Counties Represented: St. Louis
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Claims
    • Governmental Operations
    • Health and Welfare
    • Judiciary
    • Taxes
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader
    Leadership Notes: He's listed as a Second Assistant Minority Leader.
    term photo
    Click to view

    64th Legislative Session (1965-1966)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 60
    Elected: 11/3/1964
    Residence: Duluth
    Term of Office: 1/5/1965 to 1/2/1967
    Counties Represented: St. Louis
    Occupation: Practicing Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Cities of the First and Second Class
    • Commercial Transportation and Communications
    • Judiciary
    • Reapportionment
    • Taxes

    63rd Legislative Session (1963-1964)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 60
    Elected: 11/6/1962
    Residence: Duluth
    Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/4/1965
    Counties Represented: St. Louis
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Administrative Rules and Procedures
    • Cities of the 1st and 2nd Class
    • Cooperatives and Marketing
    • Judiciary
    • Recreation and Water Resources
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books By
    Gustafson, Earl. The Swedish Secret: What the United States can Learn from Sweden's Story. Minneapolis: Syren Book Co., 2006.


    Articles & Books About
    Lerner, Maura. "Proud Liberal Earned Respect in Law Practice, Public Service." Star Tribune, May 11, 2018.

    "Gustafson, Earl B." Star Tribune, April 29, 2018.

    "Earl Gustafson, Former Duluth Lawmaker and State Tax Judge, Dies at 90." Duluth News Tribune, April 17, 2018.


    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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