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    Anderson, Robert A. "Bob"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1977-90 (District 10B); House 1991-96 (District 10A)

    Party when first elected:  Independent Republican

    Counties Served:  Douglas, Otter Tail, Wadena

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 1/16/1932
    Birth Place: Wadena, Minnesota
    Birth County:
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 10/25/2006
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Bob
    City of Residence (when first elected): Ottertail
    Occupation (when first elected): Organization Manager, Small Business Owner

    EDUCATION

    St. Ann's Catholic Elementary School, Wadena; Elementary School;
    St. Thomas Military Academy, St. Paul; Secondary; Graduate
    University of Miami, Florida; B.A.; Finance

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    County Government: Otter Tail County and Clay County, Minnesota (Special Deputy Sheriff); 19?? to 19??
    Military: Minnesota National Guard; 19?? to ?
    Military: United States Army (Korean War, Corporal, 2 years); 195? to 19??

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Janet (also listed as Janey) Lynn Hemquist (married on August 3, 1967)
    Children:
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He died from pancreatic cancer at home on Ottertail Lake in Minnesota. His funeral was held at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Wadena, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by his obituary.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 7308

    SESSIONS SERVED

    79th Legislative Session (1995-1996)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 10A
    Elected: 11/8/1994
    Residence: Ottertail
    Term of Office: 1/3/1995 to 1/6/1997
    Counties Represented: Douglas, Otter Tail
    Occupation: Small-Business Owner
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Health and Human Services (Chair)
    • Health and Human Services: Health and Human Services Finance Division
    • Health and Human Services: MinnesotaCare Finance Division
    • Regulated Industries and Energy
    • Ways and Means
    term photo
    Click to view

    78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 10A
    Elected: 11/3/1992
    Residence: Ottertail
    Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/2/1995
    Counties Represented: Douglas, Otter Tail
    Occupation: Small Businessman
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Commerce and Economic Development: Controversial Bills
    • Commerce and Economic Development: Occupational Licensing
    • Commerce and Economic Development: Tourism and Small Business Division
    • Health and Human Services
    • Health and Human Services: Health and Housing Finance Division (Chair)
    • Health and Human Services: Human Services Finance Division
    • Regulated Industries and Energy
    • Ways and Means

    77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 10B
    Elected: 11/6/1990
    Residence: Ottertail
    Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993
    Counties Represented: Otter Tail
    Occupation: Small Businessman
    Party: Independent Republican Party Notes: He switched to the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party in July 1992.
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Human Resources Division
    • Commerce
    • Ethics
    • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs
    term photo
    Click to view

    76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 10B
    Elected: 11/8/1988
    Residence: Ottertail
    Term of Office: 1/3/1989 to 1/7/1991
    Counties Represented: Otter Tail
    Occupation: Small Businessman
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Health and Human Services Division
    • Commerce
    • Commerce: Tourism
    • Ethics
    • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs
    • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs: Local Government and Structures

    75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 10B
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Ottertail
    Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/2/1989
    Counties Represented: Otter Tail
    Occupation: Small Businessman
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Health and Human Services Division
    • Commerce
    • Commerce: Tourism
    • Local and Urban Affairs

    74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 10B
    Elected: 11/6/1984
    Residence: Ottertail
    Term of Office: 1/8/1985 to 1/5/1987
    Counties Represented: Otter Tail
    Occupation: Small Business
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Human Services Division (Chair)
    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Commerce and Economic Development: Commerce and Regulation
    • Commerce and Economic Development: Small Business, Economic Development and Tourism
    • Local and Urban Affairs
    • Local and Urban Affairs: Local Government Affairs
    term photo
    Click to view

    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 10B
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Ottertail
    Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/7/1985
    Counties Represented: Otter Tail
    Occupation: Businessman
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Health, Welfare, and Corrections Division
    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Commerce and Economic Development: Consumer Affairs and Tourism
    • Local and Urban Affairs
    • Local and Urban Affairs: State-Local Fiscal Affairs Division
    • Rules and Legislative Administration

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 10B
    Elected: 11/4/1980
    Residence: Ottertail
    Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
    Counties Represented: Otter Tail, Wadena
    Occupation: Small Businessman
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Health, Welfare and Corrections Division
    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Commerce and Economic Development: Economic Development
    • Local and Urban Affairs
    • Local and Urban Affairs: Governmental Structures
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    term photo
    Click to view

    71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 10B
    Elected: 11/7/1978
    Residence: Ottertail
    Term of Office: 1/3/1979 to 1/5/1981
    Counties Represented: Otter Tail, Wadena
    Occupation: Small Businessman
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Health, Welfare and Corrections Division
    • Commerce, Economic Development and Housing
    • Commerce, Economic Development and Housing: Tourism and Consumer Protection (Chair)
    • Local and Urban Affairs
    • Local and Urban Affairs: Governmental Administration and Structures
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Rules and Legislative Administration: Rules
    Leadership Position: Assistant IR Caucus Leader-1979
    Leadership Notes: The House was evenly split along party lines after the November 1978 election. Thus neither party had majority nor minority status going into the 71st Legislative Session. In May 1979 the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party gained majority status.
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader
    Leadership Notes: He became Assistant Minority Leader in May 1979.

    70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 10B
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Ottertail
    Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/2/1979
    Counties Represented: Otter Tail, Wadena
    Occupation: Organization Manager, Small Business Owner
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Local and Urban Affairs
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    "Anderson, Representative Robert A. (Obituary)." Star Tribune, October 28, 2006, p. B6.


    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.

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