Senate 1951-62 (District 24); Senate 1963-65 (District 22)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Counties Served:
Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Yellow Medicine
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
9/17/1908
Birth Place:
Wabasha, Minnesota
Birth County:
Wabasha
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
4/2/1965
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Maynard
Occupation (when first elected):
Editor and Publisher, Maynard News/Former Owner of Newspapers at Russel, Eden Valley and Albert Lea
EDUCATION
Maynard Grade School; Elementary School;
Maynard High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1927
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota Commission on the Problems of Mentally Retarded, Handicapped and Gifted Children;
19?? to 196?
Municipal Mayor:
Maynard, Minnesota (City Mayor);
19?? to 19??
School Board/Administration:
Maynard, Minnesota (Clerk of School Board);
19?? to 19??
U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission:
United States House of Representatives (Administrative Assistant to United States Representative Harold C. Hagen);
1942 to 1947
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Sylvia Haugen (married in 1930)
Children:
One child: Sandra "Sandy" (daughter)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
Senator Child died while in office. He died of a heart attack at the Minnesota State Capitol while speaking to the Senate Education Committee.
A tribute to him stated, "his last moment was spent in a Senate committee, speaking on an issue of fundamental importance defining his position and taking his stand. He collapsed before his speech was completed and he was dead before he arrived at the hospital."
The essay goes on to say that "the state of Minnesota paid special tribute to him by having his body lie in state in the rotunda of the Capitol." (Minnesota Legislative Manual 1965-1966)
A March 9, 2001 Star Tribune article states that nine people had lain in state at the Capitol by 2001, but they failed to include Senator Child in the list.
A Star Tribune article from 2001 stated, "He was a Farmer-Labor activist early in life but was a member of the Conservative caucus as a senator." (Star Tribune, March 18, 2001)
He was publicity director for Robert A. Taft's unsuccessful bid for the Republican presidential primary in 1952.