Willard Munger
Encyclopedia
Willard M. Munger, Sr. was a Minnesota
politician
and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from northeastern Minnesota. First elected in 1954, he was re-elected to four more terms before running for the Minnesota Senate
in 1964. Unsuccessful in that bid, he ran for the House again in 1966, and was re-elected every two years until his death in 1999. He holds the record as the longest-serving member of the House at over 42 years and seven months.
and attended Fergus Falls High School
, graduating in 1932. While still in high school, he supported the openly socialist Nonpartisan League. Nonpartisan League founder A.C. Townley became a close friend. He also campaigned for Farmer-Laborer Governor Floyd B. Olson
, a confessed radical who had Nonpartisan League roots. He attended the University of Minnesota
and settled in Duluth, where he was a motel
owner and operator for many years.
Before serving in the legislature, Munger worked with the marketing division of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and with grain inspection for the Minnesota Railroad and Warehouse Commission. He was unsuccessful in his first bid for office in 1934 when he ran for the state House on the Farmer-Laborer party ticket. Later, he was active in the establishment and development of the Lake Superior Zoo.
, Munger represented the old districts 59, 59B and 7A in the House, with the district boundaries and numeration changing somewhat through redistricting
every ten years. As the legislature was officially non-partisan until the 1976 elections, he caucused with the Liberal
Caucus
until declaration of party affiliation became a prerequisite for candidacy. His district included portions of St. Louis County
, primarily centered around the western part of the city of Duluth
.
Over time, Munger came to be known as Minnesota's "Mr. Environment." He earned a reputation as a pioneer, leader and activist in environmental legislation. He chaired the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee from 1973 until his death, excepting a brief interlude when Republicans
controlled the House. His most noted legislative accomplishments included the passage of the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Act, the Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling Act of 1989, the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Program, the Groundwater Protection Act of 1989, the Toxic Pollution Prevention Act, and the Wetlands Conservation Act of 1991. He also led the effort to establish the Energy Task Force to Develop Alternative Energy Resource, helped secure millions of state and federal dollars to clean up the St. Louis River, and led campaigns to fund research into frog deformities and to ban the use of DDT insecticide.
Besides chairing the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Munger also chaired the Penal Institutions Committee during the 1959-1960 legislative biennium, and the Elections Committee during the 1961-1962 biennium. Through the years, he was a member of the Appropriations, the Capital Investment, the Energy and Utilities, the General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Elections, the Metropolitan and Urban Affairs, the Rules and Legislative Administration, and the Ways and Means committees, and of various committee incarnations and subcommittees relevant to each.
on July 11, 1999, and was buried in Oneota Cemetery in Duluth. At the time of his death, he was also the oldest legislator in Minnesota history. The Willard Munger State Trail
and the Willard Munger Inn are named in his honor, and a 2009 book, "Mr. Environment: the Willard Munger Story," details his life and legacy.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Minnesota House of Representatives
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house in the Minnesota State Legislature. There are 134 members elected to two-year terms, twice the number of members in the Minnesota Senate. Each senate district is divided in half and given the suffix A or B...
from northeastern Minnesota. First elected in 1954, he was re-elected to four more terms before running for 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...
in 1964. Unsuccessful in that bid, he ran for the House again in 1966, and was re-elected every two years until his death in 1999. He holds the record as the longest-serving member of the House at over 42 years and seven months.
Early years and political interest
Munger was born in Fergus FallsFergus Falls, Minnesota
Fergus Falls is a city in and the county seat of Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,138 at the 2010 census.-Today:...
and attended Fergus Falls High School
Fergus Falls Senior High School
Fergus Falls Senior High School is the American high school located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. It currently serves over 1600 students and is a part of the Fergus Falls Public Schools system. The official school colors are maroon and gold and the athletic teams are known as "The Otters"...
, graduating in 1932. While still in high school, he supported the openly socialist Nonpartisan League. Nonpartisan League founder A.C. Townley became a close friend. He also campaigned for Farmer-Laborer Governor Floyd B. Olson
Floyd B. Olson
Floyd Bjørnstjerne Olson was an American politician. He served as the 22nd Governor of Minnesota from January 6, 1931 to August 22, 1936. He died in office from stomach cancer. He was a member of the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party, and was the first member of the Farmer-Labor Party to win the...
, a confessed radical who had Nonpartisan League roots. He attended the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
and settled in Duluth, where he was a motel
Motel
A motor hotel, or motel for short, is a hotel designed for motorists, and usually has a parking area for motor vehicles...
owner and operator for many years.
Before serving in the legislature, Munger worked with the marketing division of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and with grain inspection for the Minnesota Railroad and Warehouse Commission. He was unsuccessful in his first bid for office in 1934 when he ran for the state House on the Farmer-Laborer party ticket. Later, he was active in the establishment and development of the Lake Superior Zoo.
Legislative and environmental leadership
A DemocratMinnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
, Munger represented the old districts 59, 59B and 7A in the House, with the district boundaries and numeration 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...
every ten years. As the legislature was officially non-partisan until the 1976 elections, he caucused with the Liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
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:...
until declaration of party affiliation became a prerequisite for candidacy. His district included portions of St. Louis County
St. Louis County, Minnesota
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 200,226. Its county seat is Duluth. It is the largest county by total area in Minnesota, and the second largest in the United States east of the Mississippi River; in land area alone, after Aroostook...
, primarily centered around the western part of the city of Duluth
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
.
Over time, Munger came to be known as Minnesota's "Mr. Environment." He earned a reputation as a pioneer, leader and activist in environmental legislation. He chaired the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee from 1973 until his death, excepting a brief interlude when Republicans
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:...
controlled the House. His most noted legislative accomplishments included the passage of the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Act, the Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling Act of 1989, the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Program, the Groundwater Protection Act of 1989, the Toxic Pollution Prevention Act, and the Wetlands Conservation Act of 1991. He also led the effort to establish the Energy Task Force to Develop Alternative Energy Resource, helped secure millions of state and federal dollars to clean up the St. Louis River, and led campaigns to fund research into frog deformities and to ban the use of DDT insecticide.
Besides chairing the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Munger also chaired the Penal Institutions Committee during the 1959-1960 legislative biennium, and the Elections Committee during the 1961-1962 biennium. Through the years, he was a member of the Appropriations, the Capital Investment, the Energy and Utilities, the General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Elections, the Metropolitan and Urban Affairs, the Rules and Legislative Administration, and the Ways and Means committees, and of various committee incarnations and subcommittees relevant to each.
Death and legacy
Munger died of liver cancerLiver cancer
Liver tumors or hepatic tumors are tumors or growths on or in the liver . Several distinct types of tumors can develop in the liver because the liver is made up of various cell types. These growths can be benign or malignant...
on July 11, 1999, and was buried in Oneota Cemetery in Duluth. At the time of his death, he was also the oldest legislator in Minnesota history. The Willard Munger State Trail
Willard Munger State Trail
The Willard Munger State Trail is a system of recreational trails between Hinckley, Minnesota and Duluth, Minnesota. There are actually three segments of the trail.-Hinckley to Duluth Segment:...
and the Willard Munger Inn are named in his honor, and a 2009 book, "Mr. Environment: the Willard Munger Story," details his life and legacy.
External links
- "Pioneer in environmental legislation turns 87 years old" - Session Weekly 1/23/1998
- Willard Munger Obituary - Minneapolis Star-Tribune 7/11/1999
- Remembering Willard Munger - Minnesota Public Radio 7/12/1999
- "Mr. Environment: the Willard Munger Story" - 2009 Book Summary and Reviews
- Willard Munger/Earth Steward Organization
- Willard Munger Earth Stewart brochure
- The Willard Munger State Trail
- The Willard Munger Inn