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Zwach, Sr., John Matthew

Sessions Served  red ball graphic  Other Information

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Map of Lucan
Lucan, MN

House 1935-46 (District 14); Senate 1947-62 (District 14); Senate 1963-66 (District 17)

Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election

Counties Served:  Brown, Redwood

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 02/08/1907 Date of Death: 11/11/1990
Birth Place: Gales Township, Minnesota Birth County: Redwood Birth Country: United States
Other Names:
Gender:  Male Religion:  Catholic
City of Residence (when first elected):  Lucan

Occupation (when first elected):  Principal, Lucan School/Former Rural School Teacher/Farmer

EDUCATION

Redwood County Rural Schools; Elementary School;
Milroy High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1926
Mankato State Teachers College; Teaching certificate; 1926-28
University of Minnesota; B.A.; Government, Political Science and Educational Administration; 1933

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

School Board/AdministrationMilroy, Minnesota (Superintendent of Schools) ??/??/1946 to ??/??/1948
U.S. Representative6th Congressional District, MinnesotaElected01/03/1967 to 01/03/1975

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Agnes Schuller (married on June 3, 1940)
Children: Five children: Marie, Ann, and Barbara (daughters); John Jr. and Dennis (sons)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Barbara Sykora  - Daughter

GENERAL NOTES

He was of Czechoslavakian and Austrian ancestry.

He was a member of the Republican Party.

He was born on a farm in Redwood County.

He was one of eleven children.

He was the chief author of the bill to create Southwest Minnesota State University.

Milroy and Wabasso are also listed as post office addresses for him.

He was a member of Phi Delta Kappa.

He died of lung cancer at Redwood Falls Municipal Hospital in Minnesota. His funeral was held at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Lucan, Minnesota. He was buried in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery in Milroy, Minnesota.

Religion provided by Who's Who in Minnesota, 1958 and his obituary.

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: 17 Residence: Walnut Grove
Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
Occupation: Farmer, Cattle Feeder Operation
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
Agriculture
Committees
Education
Game and Fish
Public Highways
Rules and Legislative Expense (Chair)
Taxes and Tax Laws
Leadership Position: Majority Leader
Legislative Session: 63rd (1963-1964)   Session Details term photo
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Body: Senate Elected: 11/6/1962 Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/2/1967
District: 17 Residence: Walnut Grove
Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
Occupation: Farmer, Cattle Feeder Operation/Former Principal, Lucan School/Former Rural School Teacher
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
Agriculture
Committees
Education
Game and Fish
Public Highways
Rules and Legislative Expense (Chair)
Taxes and Tax Laws
Leadership Position: Majority Leader
Legislative Session: 62nd (1961-1962) (second half of Senate term)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/4/1958 Term of Office: 1/6/1959 to 1/7/1963
District: 14 Residence: Walnut Grove
Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
Occupation: Farmer, Cattle Feeder Operation
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
Agriculture
Committees
Education
Elections and Reapportionment
Game and Fish
Public Highways
Rules and Legislative Expense (Chair)
Taxes and Tax Laws
Leadership Position: Majority Leader
Legislative Session: 61st (1959-1960)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/4/1958 Term of Office: 1/6/1959 to 1/7/1963
District: 14 Residence: Walnut Grove
Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
Occupation: School Teacher, Principal and Superintendent
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
Agriculture
Committees
Education
Elections and Reapportionment
Game and Fish
Public Highways
Rules and Legislative Expense (Chair)
Taxes
Leadership Position: Majority Leader
Legislative Session: 60th (1957-1958) (second half of Senate term)   Session Details term photo
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Body: Senate Elected: 11/2/1954 Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 1/5/1959
District: 14 Residence: Walnut Grove
Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
Occupation: School Teacher, Principal and Superintendent
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
Agriculture
Dairy Products and Livestock
Education (Chair)
Finance
Game and Fish
Public Highways
Rules and Legislative Expense
Towns and Counties
Legislative Session: 59th (1955-1956)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/2/1954 Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 1/5/1959
District: 14 Residence: Walnut Grove
Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
Occupation: School Teacher, Principal and Superintendent
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
Agriculture
Dairy Products and Livestock
Education (Chair)
Finance
Game and Fish
Public Highways
Rules and Legislative Expense
Towns and Counties
Legislative Session: 58th (1953-1954) (second half of Senate term)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/7/1950 Term of Office: 1/2/1951 to 1/3/1955
District: 14 Residence: Walnut Grove
Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
Occupation: School Teacher, Principal and Superintendent
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
Agriculture
Dairy Products and Livestock
Education
Finance
Game and Fish
Public Highways
Reapportionment (Chair)
Towns and Counties
Legislative Session: 57th (1951-1952)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/7/1950 Term of Office: 1/2/1951 to 1/3/1955
District: 14 Residence: Walnut Grove
Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
Occupation: School Teacher, Principal and Superintendent
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
Agriculture
Dairy Products and Livestock
Education
Finance
Game and Fish
Public Highways
Public Institutions and Buildings
Towns and Counties
Legislative Session: 56th (1949-1950) (second half of Senate term)   Session Details term photo
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Body: Senate Elected: 11/5/1946 Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/1/1951
District: 14 Residence: Walnut Grove
Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
Occupation: Farmer/Superintendent of Schools, Milroy
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Agriculture
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Education
Soldiers Welfare and Soldiers Home
Telephone and Telegraph
Towns and Counties
University
Legislative Session: 55th (1947-1948)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/5/1946 Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/1/1951
District: 14 Residence: Walnut Grove
Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
Occupation: Farmer/Superintendent of Schools, Milroy
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Education
Soldiers Welfare and Soldiers Home
Telephone and Telegraph
Towns and Counties
University
Legislative Session: 54th (1945-1946)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/7/1944 Term of Office: 1/2/1945 to 1/6/1947
District: 14 Residence: Walnut Grove
Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
Dairy Products and Livestock
Education
Reapportionment
Taxes
Legislative Session: 53rd (1943-1944)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/3/1942 Term of Office: 1/5/1943 to 1/1/1945
District: 14 Residence: Walnut Grove
Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
Occupation: Farmer/School Teacher and Principal
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Dairy Products and Livestock
Education
Reapportionment
Taxes
Legislative Session: 52nd (1941-1942)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/5/1940 Term of Office: 1/7/1941 to 1/4/1943
District: 14 Residence: Walnut Grove
Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
Occupation: Former Teacher and Principal/General Farming
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Agriculture
Dairy Products and Livestock
Education
Public Welfare
Taxes
Legislative Session: 51st (1939-1940)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/8/1938 Term of Office: 1/3/1939 to 1/6/1941
District: 14 Residence: Walnut Grove
Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
Occupation: Former School Teacher and Principal/General Farming
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Aviation
Dairy Products and Livestock
Education
Liquor Control
Public Welfare
Legislative Session: 50th (1937-1938)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/3/1936 Term of Office: 1/5/1937 to 1/2/1939
District: 14 Residence: Lucan
Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
Occupation: Principal, Lucan School/Former Rural School Teacher
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Agriculture and Horticulture
Appropriations
Banks and Banking
Cooperatives and Cooperation
Education
Emergency Relief
Military Affairs (Chair)
Taxes and Tax Laws
Legislative Session: 49th (1935-1936)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/6/1934 Term of Office: 1/8/1935 to 1/4/1937
District: 14 Residence: Lucan
Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
Occupation: Principal, Lucan School/Former Rural School Teacher/Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Corporations
Education
Game and Fish
Markets and Marketing
Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Tax Laws
Public Highways
State and County Fairs

OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About
Dunn, Ruth. "Like Father, Like Son/Daughter: Legislative Service is Family Affair for Six Members." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 22, 2005, p. 20.

"A True Statesman. Family, Politicians Gather at SMSU to Honor the Late John Zwach." Marshall Independent, October 18, 2003, p. 1A, 7A.

Lonergan, Tom. "In Their Blood: 16 Legislators Have a Family Connection to Previous Members of the House and Senate." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 7, 2003, p. 16-17.

Pheifer, Pat. "Ex-Rep. John Zwach, Who Looked Out for Rural Minnesota, Dies at 83." Minneapolis Star Tribune, November 12, 1990, p. 1A, 6A.

"Zwach, John Matthew." Who's Who in Minnesota, 1958, p. 431.

Zwach, John Matthew. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.




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