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Bassett, Sr., Wayne Randolph

House 1955-56 (District 11); House 1959-62 (District 11); House 1963-64 (District 19)

Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

Counties Served:  Nobles

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 5/3/1915
Birth Place: Rushmore, Minnesota
Birth County: Nobles
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 3/11/1988
Gender: Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected): Worthington
Occupation (when first elected): Librarian; Director, Nobles County Library

EDUCATION

University of Minnesota; B.S.L.S.; Library Administration
University of Minnesota; B.A.; Political Science

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Historical Society (Member); 19?? to 19??
State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota State Board of Education (Member); 19?? to 19??
Military: United States Army (World War II, European Theatre of Operation); 194? to 19??

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Married
Children: Five children: Eugene and Wayne Jr. (sons); Judith, Roxanne, and Constance (daughters); (one child had cerebral palsy)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special legislative concerns: education, disability issues.

He was born on a farm.

He was President of the Nobles County Historical Society.

He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1956 election.

"Bassett...won election as a DFLer to the District 11 House seat in a county dominated by Republicans." (Smith, M.L. "Wayne Bassett, Legislator and Librarian, Dies." Star Tribune, March 14, 1988, p. 8B.)

He died at home in Wausau, Wisconsin.

Total Days Served: 2926

SESSIONS SERVED

63rd Legislative Session (1963-1964)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 19
Elected: 11/6/1962
Residence: Worthington
Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/4/1965
Counties Represented: Nobles
Occupation: Director, Nobles County Library
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
  • Civil Administration
  • Cooperatives and Marketing
  • Education
  • Employees Compensation
  • Industrial and Employee Relations

62nd Legislative Session (1961-1962)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 11
Elected: 11/8/1960
Residence: Worthington
Term of Office: 1/3/1961 to 1/7/1963
Counties Represented: Nobles
Occupation: Director, Nobles County Library
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "Bassett…won election as a DFLer to the District 11 House seat in a county dominated by Republicans." (Smith, M.L. "Wayne Bassett, Legislator and Librarian, Dies." Star Tribune, March 14, 1988, p. 8B.)
Committees:
  • Appropriations
  • Cooperatives and Marketing
  • Education
  • Engrossment and Enrollment (Chair)
  • Game and Fish
  • Veterans and Military Affairs

61st Legislative Session (1959-1960)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 11
Elected: 11/4/1958
Residence: Worthington
Term of Office: 1/6/1959 to 1/2/1961
Counties Represented: Nobles
Occupation: Director, Nobles County Library
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "Bassett…won election as a DFLer to the District 11 House seat in a county dominated by Republicans." (Smith, M.L. "Wayne Bassett, Legislator and Librarian, Dies." Star Tribune, March 14, 1988, p. 8B.)
Committees:
  • Appropriations
  • Civil Administration
  • Drainage and Soil Conservation
  • Education
  • Engrossment and Enrollment

59th Legislative Session (1955-1956)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 11
Elected: 11/2/1954
Residence: Worthington
Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 1/7/1957
Counties Represented: Nobles
Occupation: Librarian; Director, Nobles County Library
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "Bassett…won election as a DFLer to the District 11 House seat in a county dominated by Republicans." (Smith, M.L. "Wayne Bassett, Legislator and Librarian, Dies." Star Tribune, March 14, 1988, p. 8B.)
Committees:
  • Communications
  • Cooperatives
  • Drainage and Soil Conservation
  • Education
  • Taxes
  • Veterans and Military Affairs
Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election
Articles & Books About
Smith, M.L. "Wayne Bassett, Legislator and Librarian, Dies (Obituary)." Star Tribune, March 14, 1988, p. 8B.

"Bassett, Wayne R." Who's Who in Minnesota. Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Midwest-Beach Co., 1964.

"Bassett, Wayne R." Who's Who in Minnesota. Waseca, Minnesota: Brown Printing Co., 1958.


These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.