Byron Knutson
Encyclopedia
Byron Knutson is a North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party politician who served as the North Dakota Insurance Commissioner
from 1977 to 1980 and as the North Dakota Labor Commissioner
from 1987 to 1990. He previously served in the North Dakota House of Representatives
from 1959 to 1962.
) on November 29, 1929. He was educated in Harlow elementary schools and graduated from Benson County Agriculture and Training High School in Maddock, North Dakota
. He attended North Dakota State University
, University of North Dakota
, and Valley City State College for his college education. He served in the North Dakota House of Representatives
from 1959 to 1962, and ran for North Dakota Public Service Commissioner in 1974, but was unsuccessful. He was elected as the North Dakota Insurance Commissioner in 1976, but was defeated in 1980. After being defeated, he ran for North Dakota Labor Commissioner
in 1982, and for North Dakota Secretary of State
in 1984, but was unsuccessful in both elections. He tried again for Labor Commissioner in 1986, and this time won, defeating Orville W. Hagen
. His tenure was short-lived, however, and he was defeated in 1990 by Craig Hagen, who is of no relation to Orville.
He is married to Bernice, and has two daughters: Rebecca and Harmony.
North Dakota Insurance Commissioner
The North Dakota Insurance Commissioner regulates the insurance industry in North Dakota, licenses insurance professionals in the state, educates consumers about different types of insurance, and handles consumer complaints...
from 1977 to 1980 and as the North Dakota Labor Commissioner
North Dakota Labor Commissioner
In the U.S. state of North Dakota, the Commissioner of Labor, commonly referred to as Labor Commissioner, is an appointed official who heads the North Dakota Department of Labor...
from 1987 to 1990. He previously served in the North Dakota House of Representatives
North Dakota House of Representatives
The North Dakota House of Representatives is the lower house of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly and is larger than the North Dakota Senate....
from 1959 to 1962.
Biography
Byron Knutson was born near Harlow (a small town near BrinsmadeBrinsmade, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 29 people, 14 households, and 9 families residing in the city. The population density was 129.4 people per square mile . There were 24 housing units at an average density of 107.1 per square mile...
) on November 29, 1929. He was educated in Harlow elementary schools and graduated from Benson County Agriculture and Training High School in Maddock, North Dakota
Maddock, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 498 people, 238 households, and 127 families residing in the city. The population density was 564.7 people per square mile . There were 276 housing units at an average density of 313.0 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 99.60% White, 0.20%...
. He attended North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, more commonly known as North Dakota State University , is a public university in Fargo, North Dakota. NDSU has about 14,000 students and it is the largest university in North Dakota based on full time students and land size...
, University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
, and Valley City State College for his college education. He served in the North Dakota House of Representatives
North Dakota House of Representatives
The North Dakota House of Representatives is the lower house of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly and is larger than the North Dakota Senate....
from 1959 to 1962, and ran for North Dakota Public Service Commissioner in 1974, but was unsuccessful. He was elected as the North Dakota Insurance Commissioner in 1976, but was defeated in 1980. After being defeated, he ran for North Dakota Labor Commissioner
North Dakota Labor Commissioner
In the U.S. state of North Dakota, the Commissioner of Labor, commonly referred to as Labor Commissioner, is an appointed official who heads the North Dakota Department of Labor...
in 1982, and for North Dakota Secretary of State
North Dakota Secretary of State
The North Dakota Secretary of State is an elected office in the U.S. state of North Dakota. The current Secretary of State is Alvin Jaeger. The general duties of the Secretary of State include being the custodian of the state's Great Seal and other official state documents, recording the official...
in 1984, but was unsuccessful in both elections. He tried again for Labor Commissioner in 1986, and this time won, defeating Orville W. Hagen
Orville W. Hagen
Orville "Ike" W. Hagen was a North Dakota Republican Party politician who served as the Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota under William Guy, and as the state's first North Dakota Commissioner of Labor from 1966 to 1986 when he lost his bid for re-election to Byron Knutson...
. His tenure was short-lived, however, and he was defeated in 1990 by Craig Hagen, who is of no relation to Orville.
He is married to Bernice, and has two daughters: Rebecca and Harmony.