Fred Risser (Progressive politician)
20th century American politician
This article is about the Progressive Party politician. For his son, Democrat Fred A. Risser, see
Fred Risser .
Fred Risser
In office Preceded by Harold Groves Succeeded by Gaylord Nelson In office Preceded by Glenn D. Roberts Succeeded by Lyall T. Beggs
Born Frederic Emanuel Risser
(1900-01-15 ) January 15, 1900Buffalo, Buffalo County, Wisconsin , U.S.Died September 1, 1971(1971-09-01) (aged 71)Madison, Wisconsin , U.S. Resting place Forest Hill Cemetery , Madison, Wisconsin Political party Spouse
Children Education Profession lawyer
Frederic Emanuel Risser (January 15, 1900 – September 1, 1971) was an American lawyer and Progressive politician. He served twelve years as a member of the Wisconsin State Senate from Dane County .[ 1] Fred A. Risser , the longest-serving legislator in American history.[ 2]
Early life and education
Risser was born in the Buffalo, Buffalo County, Wisconsin , on January 15, 1900. After he graduated from Winona High School in Winona, Minnesota , he spent two years on his father's farm before enrolling at the University of Wisconsin–Madison , where he received his bachelor's degree in 1923 and his LL.B. in 1925.
Career
He taught at Beaver Dam High School for one year, and in 1925 became a practicing attorney in Madison, Wisconsin , entering the law firm of and eventually forming a partnership with former state legislator Ernest Warner .[ 3] business law at Madison College .
Wisconsin Senate
Before his election to the Senate in 1936, Risser had served as town clerk of the Town of Madison from 1927 to 1928; treasurer of the Highlands Mendota Beach School from 1930 to 1937; was three times elected district attorney of Dane County as a Republican , and in 1933 was president of the Wisconsin District Attorney's Association. From 1925 to 1930 he lectured on business law at Madison Area Technical College .
In 1936, Risser was elected to the 26th Senate District (Dane County) by a wide margin in the general election, after winning a plurality in a three-way Progressive Party primary (Progressive incumbent Harold Groves was not a candidate).[ 4] [ 5] Gaylord Nelson .[ 6]
After leaving the Senate, Risser continued to practice law. He died on September 1, 1971.[ 1]
Personal life
Fred Risser married Elizabeth Warner, the daughter of his senior law partner Ernest Warner .
Their son, Fred A. Risser , went on to serve six years in the Wisconsin State Assembly (1957–1962) and 58 years in the Wisconsin State Senate (1962–2021), making him the longest-serving state legislator in American history.[ 2]
Electoral history
Year
Election
Date
Elected
Defeated
Total
Plurality
1936
Primary[ 4]
September 15
Fred Risser
Progressive
4,820
45.66%
Gena Thompson
Prog.
3,149
29.83%
10,557
1,671
H. Paul Harris
Prog.
2,588
24.51%
General[ 5]
November 3
Fred Risser
Progressive
32,591
69.86%
Robert Caldwell Rep.
14,058
30.14%
46,649
18,533
1940
Primary[ 7]
September 17
Fred Risser (inc.)
Progressive
11,704
72.23%
Darrell MacIntyre
Prog.
4,499
27.77%
16,203
7,205
General[ 8]
November 5
Fred Risser (inc.)
Progressive
35,952
60.80%
Arthur May
Rep.
18,338
31.01%
59,130
17,614
George P. Gaffney
Dem.
4,840
8.19%
1944
General[ 9]
November 7
Fred Risser (inc.)
Progressive
25,488
45.88%
Anthony J. Fiore
Rep.
20,018
36.04%
55,549
5,470
George Schlotthauer
Dem.
9,813
17.67%
John Sikkema
Soc.
230
0.41%
1948
Primary[ 10]
September 21
Fred Risser (inc.)
Republican
17,672
70.33%
Anthony J. Fiore
Rep.
7,456
29.67%
25,128
10,216
General[ 11]
November 2
Gaylord Nelson Democratic
30,398
50.85%
Fred Risser (inc.)
Rep.
28,729
48.06%
59,777
1,669
Nathan Sadowsky
Soc.
360
0.60%
Lawrence G. Grab
Prog.
290
0.49%
References
^ a b "State Sen. Risser's Father Dead at 71" . La Crosse Tribune . Retrieved December 2, 2015 – via Newspapers.com .^ a b Johnson, Shawn (March 26, 2020). "Fred Risser, Nation's Longest-Serving State Legislator, To Retire" . Wisconsin Public Radio . Retrieved October 26, 2021 . ^ "Risser Seeks State Senate Nomination" . Wisconsin State Journal . Retrieved October 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .^ a b Ohm, Howard F.; Bryhan, Leone G., eds. (1937). "Parties and Elections: The Primary Election" (PDF) . The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1937 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 356. Retrieved October 27, 2021 . ^ a b Ohm, Howard F.; Bryhan, Leone G., eds. (1937). "Parties and Elections: The General Election" (PDF) . The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1937 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 429. Retrieved October 27, 2021 . ^ Ohm, Howard F.; Kuehn, Hazel L., ed. The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1950 Madison: State of Wisconsin, 1950; pp. 655, 757 ^ Ohm, Howard F.; Bryhan, Leone G., eds. (1942). "Parties and Elections: The Primary Election" (PDF) . The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1942 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 588. Retrieved October 27, 2021 . ^ Ohm, Howard F.; Bryhan, Leone G., eds. (1942). "Parties and Elections: The GeneralElection" (PDF) . The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1942 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 666. Retrieved October 27, 2021 . ^ Ohm, Howard F.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1946). "Parties and Elections: The General Election" (PDF) . The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1946 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 674. Retrieved October 27, 2021 . ^ Ohm, Howard F.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1950). "Parties and Elections: The Primary Election" (PDF) . The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1950 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 655. Retrieved October 27, 2021 . ^ Ohm, Howard F.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1950). "Parties and Elections: The General Election" (PDF) . The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1950 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 757. Retrieved October 27, 2021 .
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