Irv Anderson

Irvin Neil Anderson (June 18, 1923 – November 17, 2008) was a Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1965 to 1983, and again from 1991 to 2007.[1]

Irv Anderson
54th Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives
In office
1993–1997
Preceded byDee Long
Succeeded byPhil Carruthers
Minnesota House Majority Leader
In office
1973–1981
Preceded byErnest A. Lindstrom
Succeeded byWillis R. Eken
In office
1993
Preceded byAlan Welle
Succeeded byPhil Carruthers
Minnesota State Representative from District 3A
In office
January 1991  January 2007
Preceded byBob Neuenschwander
Succeeded byTom Anzelc
In office
January 1973  January 1983
Succeeded byBob Neuenschwander
Minnesota State Representative from 64B
In office
January 1965  January 1973
Personal details
BornApril 18, 1923
International Falls, Minnesota
DiedNovember 17, 2008(2008-11-17) (aged 85)
Coon Rapids, Minnesota
Political partyDFL
Spouse(s)Phyllis
ChildrenGregory, Cynthia
Alma materUniversity of Minnesota
Professionpaper inspector, union representative, legislator, veteran

From International Falls, Anderson entered politics at approximately the same time that he was elected union president at the M & O Paper Company, the International Falls paper mill where he worked. A Democrat, he represented the old District 64 and 64B and, later, District 3A. The sprawling district included all or portions of Beltrami, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods and St. Louis counties in the northern part of the state.[1]

Anderson served as majority leader of the House from 1973 to 1981, and again, briefly, in 1993 before becoming Speaker of the House in September 1993, a position he held until 1997. He continued to serve in the legislature until 2007, opting not to run for re-election in 2006 due to health concerns.[1]

Anderson fought in World War II as a United States Navy pilot from 1942 to 1945, earning the Air Medal for his performance. The Air Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Armed Forces of the United States, distinguishes themselves by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.[2] He also helped create Minnesota's memorial to World War II veterans.[3]

Anderson died at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids on November 17, 2008. He was buried in St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Cemetery in International Falls. On April 15, 2009, Governor Tim Pawlenty approved a bill designating U.S. Highway 53 from Virginia to International Falls as the Irv Anderson Memorial Highway.[4]

References

  1. "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present – Legislator Record – Anderson, Irvin N". Leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
  2. Jeff Bloch. "Air Medal". Gruntsmilitary.com. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
  3. "Former Speaker Irv Anderson dies | International Falls Journal". Ifallsdailyjournal.com. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
  4. Submitted by Jon Ellis (April 16, 2009). "Pawlenty approves Irv Anderson Memorial Highway". FOX 21 Online. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
Political offices
Preceded by
Dee Long
Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives
1993–1997
Succeeded by
Phil Carruthers
Preceded by
Alan Welle
Minnesota House Majority Leader
1993
Succeeded by
Phil Carruthers
Preceded by
Ernest A. Lindstrom
Minnesota House Majority Leader
1973–1981
Succeeded by
Willis R. Eken
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