Connors, L. Joseph "Joe"
House 1971-72 (District 57A); House 1973-74 (District 46B)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Counties Served:
Anoka, Ramsey
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
3/4/1930
Birth Place:
Brooklyn, New York
Birth County:
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
5/3/2018
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Catholic
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Joe
City of Residence (when first elected):
Fridley
Occupation (when first elected):
Staff Administrator; Honeywell, Inc., Aerospace Div.
EDUCATION
University of Wisconsin; B.S.; 1952
Columbia University Law School; LL.B.; 1955
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
School Board/Administration:
North Suburban Montessori School, Minnesota (School Board Member and Trustee);
1??? to 1???
Military:
United States Air Force, 84th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (Navigator-Radar Intercept Officer, 5 years);
1955 to 1960
U.S. Executive Branch:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Attorney);
1962 to 1968
U.S. Executive Branch:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Attorney);
1976 to 1995
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Margaret Esser (married in 1955)
Children:
Two children: Mary Kay and Brian
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
"Joe loved flying in F-89s as he and Marge enjoyed being stationed in San Antonio, San Francisco and the Philippines. Following his AF career, Joe returned to NY working with G.E. until he joined NASA at Huntsville, Alabama in 1962. Joe left NASA for Honeywell, in Minneapolis, MN in 1968. While in Minnesota, Joe got involved in politics, leading the local Fridley DFL party to election victories. He was twice elected to the House of Representatives from 1970-1974, campaigning with then Senators Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale. Joe and family returned to NY with the NY State Power Authority before rejoining NASA in 1976 at Langley Research Facility in Hampton, VA working in the Office of Chief Counsel until retirement in 1995. He was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church serving on Parish Council and co-sponsoring two refugee families from Vietnam. He served on the Board of the Newport News Housing Authority and continued his love of politics working in local elections. He and Marge moved to Apex, NC, in 2004 to be closer to their grandchildren." (Dignity Memorial obituary, May 2018)
His funeral was held at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Apex, North Carolina on May 9, 2018.
Body: House
District: 46B
Elected: 11/7/1972
Residence: Fridley
Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/6/1975
Counties Represented:
Anoka
Occupation: Staff Administrator; Honeywell, Inc., Aerospace Div.
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
Committees:
-
Commerce and Economic Development
-
Education
-
Governmental Operations
-
Labor-Management Relations
-
Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
Body: House
District: 57A
Elected: 11/3/1970
Residence: Fridley
Term of Office: 1/5/1971 to 1/1/1973
Counties Represented:
Anoka, Ramsey
Occupation: Staff Administrator; Honeywell, Inc., Aerospace Div.
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
-
Commerce and Economic Development
-
Education
-
Governmental Operations
-
Judiciary
-
Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
No other information has been entered for this legislator.
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.