Henry Kalis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Kalis
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| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 26B district 30A (1975–1983), 29B (1983–1993) |
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| In office January 7, 1975 – January 6, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Dale Erdahl |
| Succeeded by | Tony Cornish (District 24B) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Henry Joseph Kalis
March 2, 1937 Easton, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | September 12, 2018 (aged 81) Albert Lea, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic–Farmer–Labor |
| Spouse |
Violet Rae Johnson
(m. 1959) |
| Children | 4 |
Henry Joseph Kalis (born March 2, 1937 – died September 12, 2018) was an American politician from Minnesota. He was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, which is like a group of elected people who make laws for the state. Henry Kalis represented southern Minnesota for many years. He was first chosen in 1974 and was re-elected every two years until 2002.
He was part of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, often called the DFL. He represented different areas over time, including parts of Blue Earth, Faribault, Freeborn, Martin, and Waseca counties. Henry Kalis was one of the longest-serving lawmakers from southern Minnesota in the state's history.
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Early Life and Community Service
Henry Kalis was born on March 2, 1937, in Easton, Minnesota. He finished high school in Kiester, Minnesota, in 1955. In 1959, he married Violet Rae Johnson. They worked together on a farm in Walters until they retired in 2013. After retiring, they moved to Albert Lea.
Before becoming a state lawmaker, Henry Kalis served in the United States Army and the Minnesota National Guard. He also helped his local community. He was a town treasurer and a member of the township board in Foster Township, Faribault County, Minnesota. From 1970, he was a member of the Faribault County board of commissioners. This experience helped him decide to run for the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1974.
He won his election for the DFL party in 1974. This was impressive because at that time, many people in southern Minnesota were voting for the Republican party. Another lawmaker once said that Henry "seemed to win whether it was a good year for Democrats or a bad year for Democrats."
Serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives
Henry Kalis served in the state legislature until 2002. He represented areas that included parts of Blue Earth, Faribault, Freeborn, Martin, and Waseca counties. He became known as a "conservative Democrat." This means he was a Democrat, but he often held views that were more traditional or cautious, especially on money matters.
He was a strong supporter of farmers and agricultural issues, which are about farming and food production. He also cared a lot about transportation issues, like roads and bridges. Henry Kalis worked on many different committees in the House, including those for agriculture, money, education, and transportation.
He was known for being moderate and for working with people from both political parties. He sometimes even voted against his own Democratic Party when he thought it was the right thing to do. Because of his long experience, he often helped new lawmakers from rural areas learn how things worked.
Leading Important Committees
Henry Kalis was the leader, or chair, of the House Transportation Committee from 1987 to 1992. He also chaired the House Capital Investment Committee from 1993 to 1998. This committee decides how the state spends money on big projects like new buildings or roads.
As chair of the Capital Investment Committee, Henry Kalis was known for being fair. He wasn't afraid to say no to ideas that he thought were not good enough. He once said, "buildings don't care if they're in a Democrat or a Republican district." This showed that he believed in making good decisions for everyone, no matter their political party.
Always First to File
Henry Kalis had a unique tradition: he was always the first person to sign up to run for office each year. He would often arrive at the Minnesota Secretary of State's office in Saint Paul very early, sometimes even the day before it opened! He said he did this because he loved his job and wanted to show it. Sometimes, he even camped out in a sleeping bag in front of the office.
Retirement and Legacy
In 2002, Henry Kalis decided to retire from the House of Representatives. He felt it was the right time, but he also said it was the "hardest decision" he had ever made. He had served the people he represented for 28 years. After retiring, he went back to farming near Walters, Minnesota until 2013 and mostly stayed out of politics.
Henry Kalis passed away on September 12, 2018, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, at the age of 81. After his death, Ken Martin, the chairman of the Minnesota DFL party, said that Henry "earned a reputation for championing issues to improve the lives of not just his constituents, but all Minnesotans." This means he worked hard to make life better for everyone in his state.
