Sams, Dallas C.
Senate 1991-92 (District 12); Senate 1993-2006 (District 11)
Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Counties Served:
Becker, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Stearns, Stevens, Todd, Wadena
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
8/30/1952
Birth Place:
Birth County:
Birth Country:
Date of Death:
3/5/2007
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Protestant
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Staples
Occupation (when first elected):
Farmer/Farm Business Management Instructor
EDUCATION
Staples High School; Secondary;
Brainerd Community College; Junior College/Community College;
University of Minnesota; B.S.; Agricultural Education
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
State Agency:
Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Marketing Services Division (Contractor);
01/2007 to 03/05/2007
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Elaine (listed when first elected, no longer listed in 1997); Mary Beth Davidson (listed in 1999)
Children:
Five children: Seth, Stacia, Jordan, Mitchell and Michael
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
Special Legislative Concerns: agriculture, health care, education, transportation.
He died, from brain cancer, at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. His funeral was held at the gymnasium of Staples High School in Minnesota.
Religion provided by Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.
Body: Senate
District: 11
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Staples
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented:
Douglas, Grant, Stevens, Todd
Occupation: Dairy Farmer/Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Special Session Bills Authored: 2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
-
Agriculture, Veterans and Gaming
-
Capital Investment
-
Commerce
-
Commerce: Liquor
-
Commerce: No Fault Insurance
-
Finance
-
Finance: Environment, Agriculture and Economic Development Budget Division (Chair)
-
Rules and Administration
Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election
Body: Senate
District: 11
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Staples
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented:
Douglas, Grant, Stevens, Todd
Occupation: Farmer/Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture, General Legislation and Veterans Affairs-2003/Agriculture, Veterans and Gaming-2004
-
Commerce and Utilities-2003/Commerce-2004
-
Commerce and Utilities-2003/Commerce-2004: Telecommunications and Technology
-
Finance
-
Finance: Environment, Agriculture and Economic Development Budget Division (Chair)
-
Jobs, Housing and Community Development-2003/Jobs, Energy and Community Development-2004
[He was a member in 2003 only.]
-
Rules and Administration
Body: Senate
District: 11
Elected: 11/7/2000
Residence: Staples
Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
Counties Represented:
Becker, Douglas, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, Wadena
Occupation: Farmer/Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture, General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
-
Finance
-
Finance: Health, Human Services and Corrections Budget Division
-
Health and Family Security (Chair)
-
Rules and Administration: Elections
-
Telecommunications, Energy and Utilities
Body: Senate
District: 11
Elected: 11/5/1996
Residence: Staples
Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001
Counties Represented:
Becker, Douglas, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, Wadena
Occupation: Farmer/Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture and Rural Development (Chair)
-
Election Laws
-
Health and Family Security
-
Health and Family Security/Human Resources Finance: Health and Family Security Budget Division
-
Transportation
-
Transportation/State Government Finance: Transportation Budget Division
Body: Senate
District: 11
Elected: 11/5/1996
Residence: Staples
Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001
Counties Represented:
Becker, Douglas, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, Wadena
Occupation: Farmer/Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture and Rural Development (Chair)
-
Agriculture and Rural Development: Joint House/Senate Special Select Subcommittee on Agricultural Education (Chair)
-
Election Laws
-
Health and Family Security
-
Health and Family Security/Human Resources Finance: Health and Family Security Budget Division
-
Human Resources Finance
-
Transportation
-
Transportation/State Government Finance: Transportation Budget Division
Body: Senate
District: 11
Elected: 11/3/1992
Residence: Staples
Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/6/1997
Counties Represented:
Becker, Douglas, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, Wadena
Occupation: Farmer/Farm Business Management Instructor
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture and Rural Development
-
Ethics and Campaign Reform
-
Health Care
-
Health Care: Health Care and Family Services Finance Division
-
Taxes and Tax Laws
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Tax
Body: Senate
District: 11
Elected: 11/3/1992
Residence: Staples
Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/6/1997
Counties Represented:
Becker, Douglas, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, Wadena
Occupation: Farmer/Farm Business Management Instructor
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture and Rural Development
-
Governmental Operations and Reform
-
Governmental Operations and Reform: Reform and Innovation
-
Health Care
-
Health Care: Health Care and Family Services Finance Division
-
Taxes and Tax Laws
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Tax
Body: Senate
District: 12
Elected: 11/6/1990
Residence: Staples
Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993
Counties Represented:
Douglas, Otter Tail, Todd, Wadena
Occupation: Farmer/Farm Business Management Instructor
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture and Rural Development
-
Agriculture and Rural Development: Joint Agriculture and Rural Development/Environment and Natural Resources Ad Hoc
-
Agriculture and Rural Development: Rural Development
-
Economic Development and Housing
-
Health and Human Services
-
Health and Human Services: Health Care Access Division
-
Veterans and General Legislation
Senate Photos
The photos in this collection were scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer
with the generous help of the Minnesota
Digital Library.
Articles & Books About
DeFiebre, Conrad. "Ex-Sen. Dallas Sams, Champion of Agriculture; News Obituaries." Star Tribune, March 6, 2007, p. B6.
Lien, Dennis. "Dallas Sams, 54, 'Beloved' Senator (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, March 6, 2007.
District Files
District File - 2000 District 11
District File - 2002 District 11
District File - 2001 District 11
District File - 2003 District 11
District File - 2004 District 11
District File - 2005 District 11
District File - 2006 District 11
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.
The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.