Fred Risser facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fred Risser
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Risser in 2009
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| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 26th district |
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| In office December 1, 1962 – January 4, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Horace W. Wilkie |
| Succeeded by | Kelda Roys |
| President of the Wisconsin Senate | |
| In office July 17, 2012 – January 7, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Michael G. Ellis |
| Succeeded by | Michael G. Ellis |
| In office January 8, 2007 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Alan Lasee |
| Succeeded by | Michael G. Ellis |
| In office January 4, 1999 – January 6, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Brian Rude |
| Succeeded by | Alan Lasee |
| In office July 9, 1996 – April 21, 1998 |
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| Preceded by | Brian Rude |
| Succeeded by | Brian Rude |
| In office May 1, 1979 – January 9, 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Russell Olson |
| Succeeded by | Brian Rude |
| President pro tempore of the Wisconsin Senate | |
| In office January 6, 1975 – May 1, 1979 |
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| Preceded by | Robert P. Knowles |
| Succeeded by | Vacant until 1983 William A. Bablitch (1983) |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Dane 2nd district |
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| In office January 7, 1957 – December 1, 1962 |
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| Preceded by | Ivan A. Nestingen |
| Succeeded by | Edward Nager |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 5, 1927 Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Nancy Risser |
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| Relatives | Ernest Warner (grandfather) Clement Warner (great-grandfather) |
| Alma mater | University of Oregon (BA, LLB) |
| Profession | Legislator |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1945–1946 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Fred A. Risser (born May 5, 1927) is a retired American politician and lawyer. He served in the Wisconsin Legislature for a very long time, from 1957 to 2021. Risser was a member of the Democratic Party from Madison, Wisconsin. He holds the record as the longest-serving state lawmaker in American history. He served 58 years in the Wisconsin State Senate and six years in the Wisconsin State Assembly.
Fred Risser was the fourth person in his family to serve in the state legislature. His father, Fred E. Risser, also represented the same state senate district years before. Fred Risser represented most of the city of Madison, including the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He was the president of the Senate for 26 years and never lost an election. By 2019, Risser was the last World War II veteran still serving as a state legislator in the United States.
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Early Life and Education
Fred Risser was born in Madison, Wisconsin, on May 5, 1927. He came from a family with a long history in Wisconsin politics. His father, Fred E. Risser, his grandfather, Ernest Warner, and his great-grandfather, Clement Warner, all served as Wisconsin lawmakers. They represented parts of Dane County at different times.
Serving in World War II
Risser joined the United States Navy during World War II. He served from 1945 to 1946. He was sworn into the Navy just before he finished high school and before Victory in Europe Day. He worked as a medic and was stationed in Newport, Rhode Island, and the Panama Canal Zone.
College and Law School
After the war, Risser used the G.I. Bill to go to college. This program helped veterans pay for their education. He attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Carleton College before moving to the University of Oregon. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oregon in 1950. Then, he received a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Oregon School of Law in 1952. He became a lawyer in Wisconsin and Oregon and practiced law in Wisconsin.
Time in the Wisconsin Legislature
Fred Risser spent many years working as a lawmaker in Wisconsin. He served in both the Assembly and the Senate.
Wisconsin Assembly Service
Risser was first elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1956. The Assembly is one part of Wisconsin's state legislature. He took over from another Democrat, Ivan A. Nestingen, who had become the mayor of Madison. Risser was re-elected to the Assembly in 1958 and 1960. In 1962, he was elected to the state Senate in a special election. This election happened because Horace W. Wilkie was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Edward Nager, another Democrat, took Risser's place in the Assembly.
Wisconsin Senate Service
Risser was elected to a full term in the Wisconsin State Senate in 1964. The Senate is the other part of Wisconsin's state legislature. He was re-elected every four years until he retired. He quickly became a leader, becoming the minority leader in 1967. He said this was because he studied parliamentary procedure very carefully. This means he learned all the rules for how meetings and debates in the Senate should be run.
After Democrats won the majority in the Senate in 1974, Risser was elected as president pro tempore. This role meant he would lead the Senate meetings when the main president was not there. He held this job until 1979. At that time, a change was made to the state's constitution. This change separated the jobs of Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate. When this change happened, Risser was elected as the President of the Senate. He held this important position for 16 years in a row. He was re-elected as president every time the Democrats had the majority in the Senate for the next 20 years. In total, he served about 26 years as the President of the Senate.
2011 Wisconsin Protests
During protests in Wisconsin in 2011, Fred Risser and 13 other Democratic State Senators left the state. They did this to prevent the State Senate from having enough members (a quorum) to vote on a bill proposed by Governor Scott Walker. This bill was called the "Budget Repair" legislation. Their action stopped the vote for a while.
Retirement from Politics
On March 26, 2020, Fred Risser announced that he would not run for re-election. He retired from the Wisconsin Legislature in January 2021.
Other Political Activities
Risser was also involved in national politics. He was a delegate to the 1960 Democratic National Convention and the 1964 Democratic National Convention. These conventions are where political parties choose their candidates for president. He also served as the leader of Wisconsin's Presidential electors during the 1964 presidential election.
Personal Life
Fred Risser's first wife, Betty, passed away after they were married for 21 years. Risser is now married to Nancy Risser, who used to be a Spanish teacher. He has three children and several grandchildren.
