Alec G. Olson

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Alec Gehard Olson (born September 11, 1930) is an American retired politician from the U.S. state of Minnesota who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1963 to 1967, a member of the Minnesota Senate from 1969 to 1976, and as Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota from 1976 to 1979.

Alec Olson
40th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
In office
December 29, 1976 – January 3, 1979
GovernorRudy Perpich
Preceded byRudy Perpich
Succeeded byLou Wangberg
1st President of the Minnesota Senate
In office
January 1973 – December 29, 1976
Preceded byRudy Perpich
(as lieutenant governor)*
Succeeded byEdward J. Gearty
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Minnesota's 6th district
In office
January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1967
Preceded byFred Marshall
Succeeded byJohn M. Zwach
Member of the Minnesota Senate
In office
May 14, 1969 – December 29, 1976
Preceded byRobert G. Johnson
Succeeded byAlvin O. H. Setzepfandt Jr.
Constituency23rd district (1969-1973)
21st district (1973-1976)
Personal details
Born
Alec Gehard Olson

(1930-09-11) September 11, 1930 (age 94)
Mamre Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota
Political partyMinnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Spouse
Janice Ruth Albrecht
(m. 1957)
Children4
ProfessionInsurance representative, farmer
  • From statehood until 1973, the lieutenant governor served as state senate president. Starting in 1973, senate presidents were selected from the body.

Biography

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Olison was born in Mamre Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. Olson attended public schools and graduated from Willmar High School in 1948. He farmed between 1948 and 1955, and was an insurance representative from 1955 to 1962. He was active in the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party from 1952 to 1962, serving as a district chairman for four years. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1960, 1964 and 1968.[1]

Olson served in the U.S. House of Representatives from January 3, 1963, to January 3, 1967, during the 88th and 89th Congresses. He lost his bid for re-election in 1966.[1][2] Olson served in the Minnesota Senate from 1969 to 1976 and was Senate president from 1973 to 1976. When Wendell R. Anderson resigned the governorship to become a U.S. senator in 1976 and was succeeded by Lieutenant Governor Rudy Perpich, Olson became the new lieutenant governor; he served from December 29, 1976 to January 3, 1979, and was Perpich's running mate in Minnesota's 1978 gubernatorial race.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present – Legislator Record – Olson, Alec Gehard". Leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
  2. ^ "OLSON, Alec Gehard – Biographical Information". Bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
1978
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
1976–1979
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Rudy Perpich
Lt. Gov.
President of the Minnesota Senate
1973–1976
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by U.S. Representative from Minnesota's 6th congressional district
1963–1967
Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative
Succeeded byas Former US Representative