John Olson (Minnesota politician)
Encyclopedia
John L. Olson was a Minnesota
politician and a member of the Minnesota Senate
from southwestern Minnesota. First elected in 1958 when he defeated incumbent senator A. A. "Andy" Anderson of Luverne
, Olson was re-elected in 1962, 1966, 1970 and 1972. He represented the old districts 11, 19 and 26, which included all or portions of Murray
, Nobles
, Pipestone
and Rock
counties, changing somewhat through redistricting
in 1960 and 1970.
From the city of Worthington
, Olson was a livestock farmer. He allied with the Conservative Caucus
at a time when the legislature was still officially nonpartisan
, although he identified as and was known to be a Republican
.
While in the legislature, Olson was an advocate for agriculture and issues relevant to education and natural resources
. He served on the Senate Education, Finance, General Legislation, Labor & Commerce, Liquor Control, Natural Resources & Agriculture, and Rules & Administration committees, and on various other committee incarnations and subcommittees during his 18 years in office. He was chair of the General Legislation Committee from 1967 to 1971, and of the Higher Education Committee from 1971 to 1973.
After leaving the senate in 1977, Olson retired to his farm, where he died in 1981.
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
politician and a member of the Minnesota Senate
Minnesota Senate
The Minnesota Senate is the upper house in the Minnesota Legislature. There are 67 members, half as many as are in the Minnesota House of Representatives. In terms of membership, it is the largest upper house of any state legislature. Each Senate district in the state includes an A and B House...
from southwestern Minnesota. First elected in 1958 when he defeated incumbent senator A. A. "Andy" Anderson of Luverne
Luverne, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,617 people, 1,968 households, and 1,247 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,356.1 people per square mile . There were 2,161 housing units at an average density of 634.7 per square mile...
, Olson was re-elected in 1962, 1966, 1970 and 1972. He represented the old districts 11, 19 and 26, which included all or portions of Murray
Murray County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,165 people, 3,722 households, and 2,601 families residing in the county. The population density was 13 people per square mile . There were 4,357 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile...
, Nobles
Nobles County, Minnesota
Nobles County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 21,378. Its county seat is Worthington.-Geography:...
, Pipestone
Pipestone County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,895 people, 4,069 households, and 2,726 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile . There were 4,434 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
and Rock
Rock County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,721 people, 3,843 households, and 2,705 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile . There were 4,137 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile...
counties, changing somewhat through redistricting
Redistricting
Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...
in 1960 and 1970.
From the city of Worthington
Worthington, Minnesota
Worthington is a city in Nobles County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 12,764 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Nobles County.The city's site was first settled in the 1870s as Okabena Station on a line of the Chicago, St...
, Olson was a livestock farmer. He allied with the Conservative Caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
at a time when the legislature was still officially nonpartisan
Nonpartisan
In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....
, although he identified as and was known to be a Republican
Republican Party of Minnesota
The Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
.
While in the legislature, Olson was an advocate for agriculture and issues relevant to education and natural resources
Natural Resources
Natural Resources is a soul album released by Motown girl group Martha Reeves and the Vandellas in 1970 on the Gordy label. The album is significant for the Vietnam War ballad "I Should Be Proud" and the slow jam, "Love Guess Who"...
. He served on the Senate Education, Finance, General Legislation, Labor & Commerce, Liquor Control, Natural Resources & Agriculture, and Rules & Administration committees, and on various other committee incarnations and subcommittees during his 18 years in office. He was chair of the General Legislation Committee from 1967 to 1971, and of the Higher Education Committee from 1971 to 1973.
After leaving the senate in 1977, Olson retired to his farm, where he died in 1981.