72nd Wisconsin Legislature

The Seventy-Second Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 12, 1955, to October 21 1955, in regular session.[1]

72nd Wisconsin Legislature
71st 73rd
Wisconsin State Capitol
Overview
Legislative bodyWisconsin Legislature
Meeting placeWisconsin State Capitol
TermJanuary 3, 1955 – January 7, 1957
ElectionNovember 2, 1954
Senate
Members33
Senate PresidentWarren P. Knowles (R)
President pro temporeFrank E. Panzer (R)
Party controlRepublican
Assembly
Members100
Assembly SpeakerMark Catlin Jr. (R)
Party controlRepublican
Sessions
RegularJanuary 12, 1955 – October 21, 1955

This was the first legislative session after the redistricting of the Senate and Assembly according to an act of the 1951 session (The implementation of that redistricting act had been delayed to the 1954 election).

Senators representing odd-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first two years of a four-year term. Assembly members were elected to a two-year term. Assembly members and odd-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 2, 1954. Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of a four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 4, 1952.[1]

Major events

Major legislation

  • August 3, 1955: An Act ... relating to incorporation of certain towns as fourth class cities, 1955 Act 500. This act dramatically reduced the population density requirements in order for a community to incorporate as a fourth-class city. The act was commonly known as the "Oak Creek Law", because the Milwaukee suburb had worked to pass this law in order to avoid further annexation to the city of Milwaukee.
  • 1955 Joint Resolution 14. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to create a new section establishing qualifications for state judges and allowing the legislature to set a mandatory retirement age. This amendment was ratified by voters at the 1955 April election.
  • 1955 Joint Resolution 17. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to add an exception for retired teachers in the rules on changes to compensation for state employees. This amendment was ratified by voters at the 1956 April election.

Party summary

Senate summary

Senate partisan composition
  Democratic: 8 seats
  Republican: 25 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Dem.Rep.Vacant
End of previous Legislature724312
Start of Reg. Session825330
From Nov. 1, 1955[note 1]24321
From Apr. 13, 1956[note 2]23312
Final voting share25.81%74.19%
Beginning of the next Legislature1023330

Assembly summary

Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 36 seats
  Republican: 64 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Dem.Rep.Vacant
End of previous Legislature2572973
Start of Reg. Session36641000
From Oct. 12, 1955[note 3]63991
From Apr. 16, 1956[note 4]35982
Final voting share35.71%64.29%
Beginning of the next Legislature33671000

Sessions

  • Regular session: January 12, 1955 – October 21, 1955

Leaders

Senate leadership

Assembly leadership

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Seventy-Second Wisconsin Legislature:[2]

Senate partisan representation
  Democratic: 8 seats
  Republican: 25 seats
Dist.CountiesSenatorResidenceParty
01Door, Kewaunee, & ManitowocAlfred A. Laun Jr.KielRep.
02BrownLeo P. O'BrienGreen BayRep.
03Milwaukee (South City)Casimir KendziorskiMilwaukeeDem.
04Milwaukee (North County)Harry F. Franke Jr.MilwaukeeRep.
05Milwaukee (Northwest City)Walter L. MertenMilwaukeeRep.
06Milwaukee (City center)William A. SchmidtMilwaukeeDem.
07Milwaukee (South County & Southeast City)Leland McParlandCudahyDem.
08Milwaukee (Western County)Allen BusbyWest MilwaukeeRep.
09Milwaukee (City Downtown)Henry MaierMilwaukeeDem.
10Buffalo, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, & St. CroixRobert P. KnowlesNew RichmondRep.
11Milwaukee (Western City)Richard J. ZaborskiMilwaukeeDem.
12Iron, Lincoln, Oneida, Price, Taylor, & VilasBernard J. GehrmannMellenRep.
13Dodge & WashingtonFrank E. PanzerOakfieldRep.
14Outagamie & WaupacaGerald LorgeBear CreekRep.
15RockPeter P. CarrJanesvilleRep.
16Dane (Excluding Madison)Foster B. PorterBloomingtonRep.
17Grant, Green, Iowa, & LafayetteRobert S. TravisPlattevilleRep.
18Fond du Lac, Green Lake & WausharaAlfred Van De ZandeCampbellsportRep.
19Calumet & WinnebagoWilliam DraheimNeenahRep.
20Ozaukee & SheboyganLouis H. PrangePlymouthRep.
21RacineLynn E. StalbaumRacineDem.
22Kenosha & WalworthWilliam TrinkeLake GenevaRep.
23Barron, Burnett, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer, & WashburnPaul J. Rogan (Res. Nov. 1, 1955)LadysmithRep.
24Clark, Portage, & WoodWilliam W. ClarkVesperRep.
25Ashland, Bayfield, & DouglasCarl LauriMerrillDem.
26Dane (Madison)Gaylord NelsonMadisonDem.
27Columbia, Crawford, Richland, & SaukJess MillerRichland CenterRep.
28Chippewa & Eau ClaireArthur L. Padrutt (Res. Apr. 13, 1956)Chippewa FallsRep.
29Marathon & ShawanoHugh M. JonesWausauRep.
30Florence, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, & OcontoPhilip DowningAmbergRep.
31Adams, Juneau, Monroe, Marquette, & VernonJ. Earl LeverichSpartaRep.
32Jackson, La Crosse, & TrempealeauRaymond Bice Sr.La CrosseRep.
33Jefferson & WaukeshaChester DempseyHartlandRep.

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Seventy-Second Wisconsin Legislature:[2]

Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 36 seats
  Republican: 64 seats
Milwaukee County districts
Senate
Dist.
CountyDist.RepresentativePartyResidence
31Adams, Juneau, & MarquetteLouis C. RomellRep.Adams
25Ashland & BayfieldVic C. WallinRep.Grand View
23BarronCharles H. SykesRep.Cameron
02Brown1Jerome QuinnRep.Green Bay
2Robert E. LynchDem.Green Bay
3Edward A. SeymourRep.De Pere
10Buffalo, Pepin, & PierceMamre H. WardRep.Durand
23Burnett & PolkRaymond A. PeabodyRep.Milltown
19CalumetHenry M. PetersRep.Menasha
28ChippewaSylvia H. RaihleRep.Chippewa Falls
24ClarkWalter E. Cook (died Oct. 12, 1955)Rep.Unity
27ColumbiaEverett BidwellRep.Portage
Crawford & RichlandMilford C. KintzRep.Richland Center
26Dane1Joseph Wheeler BloodgoodDem.Madison
2Ivan A. Nestingen (Res. Apr. 16, 1956)Dem.Madison
3Carroll MetznerRep.Madison
164Carl W. ThompsonDem.Stoughton
5Ervin M. BrunerDem.Verona
13Dodge1Elmer L. GenzmerRep.Mayville
2Elmer C. NitschkeRep.Beaver Dam
01Door & KewauneeFrank N. GraassRep.Sturgeon Bay
25Douglas1Reino A. PeralaDem.Superior
2Lawrence M. HagenRep.Superior
10DunnG. H. BakkeRep.Menomonie
28Eau Claire1Ray KuhlmanRep.Eau Claire
2Bernard H. RaetherDem.Augusta
30Florence, Forest, & LangladeAlfred J. LaubyDem.Antigo
18Fond du Lac1Nicholas J. LesselyoungRep.Fond du Lac
2Fred W. SchlueterRep.Ripon
17GrantWilliam A. LoyRep.Fennimore
GreenHarry A. KeeganRep.Monroe
18Green Lake & WausharaWilliam BelterRep.Wautoma
17Iowa & LafayetteWalter B. CalvertRep.Benton
12Iron, Oneida, & VilasMarvin E. DillmanRep.Lac du Flambeau
32Jackson & TrempealeauKeith C. HardieDem.Taylor
33JeffersonByron F. WackettRep.Watertown
22Kenosha1George MolinaroDem.Kenosha
2Joseph LouriganDem.Kenosha
32La Crosse1James D. H. PetersonRep.La Crosse
2Eugene A. ToepelRep.La Crosse
12LincolnEmil A. HinzRep.Merrill
01Manitowoc1Hugo E. VogelDem.Manitowoc
2Frank J. LeClairRep.Two Rivers
29Marathon1Ben A. RiehleDem.Athens
2Paul A. LuedtkeRep.Wausau
30MarinetteRoy H. SengstockRep.Marinette
04Milwaukee1Edward F. MertzDem.Milwaukee
092Walton Bryan StewartDem.Milwaukee
3Joseph A. GrecoDem.Milwaukee
114Joseph P. MurphyDem.Milwaukee
055Lawrence W. TimmermanRep.Milwaukee
096Isaac N. CoggsDem.Milwaukee
067James G. LippertDem.Milwaukee
118George TalskyDem.Milwaukee
059Charles J. SchmidtDem.Milwaukee
0610Michael F. O'ConnellDem.Milwaukee
0311Ervin J. RyczekDem.Milwaukee
12George SokolowskiDem.Milwaukee
0613Cecil B. Brown Jr.Dem.Milwaukee
0314Richard B. NowakowskiDem.Milwaukee
0515Earle W. FrickerRep.Milwaukee
1116Thomas J. DuffeyDem.Milwaukee
0717Howard F. PellantDem.Milwaukee
0418Ralph LandowskiDem.Milwaukee
19William KasikRep.Milwaukee
0820Glen PommereningRep.Wauwatosa
21Arthur J. BalzerDem.West Allis
22Robert T. HuberDem.West Allis
0723William LuebkeDem.Milwaukee
24George C. WindrowDem.Cudahy
31MonroeEarl D. HallRep.Tomah
30OcontoReuben La FaveRep.Oconto
14Outagamie1Mark Catlin Jr.Rep.Appleton
2William T. SullivanRep.Kaukauna
20OzaukeeWarren A. GradyRep.Port Washington
24PortageJohn KostuckDem.Stevens Point
12Price & TaylorVincent J. ZellingerRep.Phillips
21Racine1Earl W. WarrenDem.Racine
2Roy E. NaleidDem.Racine
3Anthony B. RewaldRep.Burlington
15Rock1Clyde JewettRep.Janesville
2David BlanchardRep.Edgerton
3Wallace LeschinskyRep.Beloit
23Rusk, Sawyer, & WashburnWillis J. HutnikRep.Tony
27SaukJames R. StoneRep.Reedsburg
29ShawanoRobert G. MarotzRep.Shawano
20Sheboygan1Fred E. NuernbergRep.Sheboygan
2Harold F. HuibregtseRep.Sheboygan Falls
10St. CroixWilliam A. BergeronRep.Somerset
16VernonBernard LewisonRep.Viroqua
22WalworthOra R. RiceRep.Delavan
13WashingtonElmer J. SchowalterRep.Jackson
33Waukesha1Alvin J. RedfordRep.Waukesha
2Alfred R. LudvigsenRep.Hartland
14WaupacaRichard E. PetersonRep.Clintonville
19Winnebago1Harvey R. AbrahamRep.Oshkosh
2Joseph H. AndersonRep.Winneconne
3Arnold J. CaneRep.Menasha
24Wood1John S. CrawfordRep.Marshfield
2Arthur J. CrownsRep.Wisconsin Rapids

Committees

Senate committees

  • Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Conservation – J. E. Leverich, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Committees – J. Miller, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Contingent Expenditures – L. H. Prange, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Education and Public Welfare – W. W. Clark, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Governmental and Veterans Affairs – A. L. Padrutt, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Highways – J. Miller, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on the Judiciary – A. Busby, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Labor, Taxation, Insurance, and Banking – A. Van De Zande, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Legislative Procedure – F. E. Panzer, chair

Assembly committees

  • Assembly Standing Committee on Agriculture – O. R. Rice, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and Manufactures – M. H. Ward, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Conservation – R. La Fave, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent Expenditures – W. Belter, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Education – W. J. Hutnik, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Elections – F. E. Nuernberg, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed Bills – L. M. Hagen, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled Bills – R. A. Peabody, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and Fees – E. L. Genzmer, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Highways – G. H. Bakke, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and Banking – R. H. Sengstock, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on the Judiciary – N. J. Lesselyoung, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Labor – W. E. Cook, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Municipalities – P. A. Luedtke, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Printing – F. J. LeClair, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Public Welfare – S. H. Raihle, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Revision – E. C. Nitschke, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Rules – R. G. Marotz, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on State Affairs – E. A. Toepel, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Taxation – W. A. Grady, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Third Reading – A. J. Redford, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Transportation – L. C. Romell, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs – B. F. Wackett, chair

Joint committees

  • Joint Standing Committee on Finance – F. B. Porter (Sen.) & A. R. Ludvigsen (Asm.), co-chairs
  • Joint Standing Committee on Revisions, Repeals, and Uniform Laws – W. Trinke (Sen.) & A. J. Cane (Asm.), co-chairs

Employees

Senate employees

  • Chief Clerk: Lawrence R. Larsen[3]
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: Harold Damon
    • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Anton J. Oelmiller

Assembly employees

Changes from the 71st Legislature

New districts for the 72nd Legislature were defined in 1951 Wisconsin Act 728, passed into law in the 70th Wisconsin Legislature. This was the most significant redistricting of the state since 1896.

Senate redistricting

Summary of Senate changes

  • 11 districts were left unchanged.
  • Brown County became its own district (2) after previously having been in a shared district with Oconto.
  • Dane County went from having 1 district to 2 (16, 26).
  • Milwaukee County went from having 7 districts to 8 (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11), representing nearly a quarter of State Senate seats.

Senate districts

Dist.71st Legislature72nd Legislature
1Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc countiesDoor, Kewaunee, Manitowoc counties
2Brown, Oconto countiesBrown County
3Milwaukee County (city south)Milwaukee County (city south)
4Milwaukee County (northeast)Milwaukee County (northern quarter)
5Milwaukee County (city northwest)Milwaukee County (city northwest)
6Milwaukee County (city north-central)Milwaukee County (city northeast)
7Milwaukee County (southeast)Milwaukee County (southern quarter)
8Milwaukee County (west)Milwaukee County (middle-west)
9Milwaukee County (city center)Milwaukee County (city center)
10Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, St. Croix countiesBuffalo, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, St. Croix counties
11Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Washburn countiesMilwaukee County (city west)
12Ashland, Bayfield, Price, Rusk, Sawyer countiesAshland, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Vilas counties
13Dodge, Washington countiesDodge, Washington counties
14Outagamie, Shawano countiesOutagamie, Waupaca counties
15Rock CountyRock County
16Crawford, Grant, Vernon countiesDane County (excluding Madison)
17Green, Iowa, Lafayette countiesGrant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette counties
18Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Waushara countiesFond du Lac, Green Lake, Waushara counties
19Calumet, Winnebago countiesCalumet, Winnebago counties
20Ozaukee, Sheboygan countiesOzaukee, Sheboygan counties
21Racine CountyRacine County
22Kenosha, Walworth countiesKenosha, Walworth counties
23Portage, Waupaca countiesBarron, Burnett, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer, Washburn counties
24Clark, Taylor, Wood countiesClark, Portage, Wood counties
25Lincoln, Marathon countiesAshland, Bayfield, Douglas counties
26Dane CountyDane County (Madison)
27Columbia, Richland, Sauk countiesColumbia, Crawford, Richland, Sauk counties
28Chippewa, Eau Claire countiesChippewa, Eau Claire counties
29Barron, Dunn, Polk countiesMarathon, Shawano counties
30Florence, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, Oneida countiesFlorence, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, Oconto counties
31Adams, Juneau, Monroe, Marquette countiesAdams, Juneau, Monroe, Marquette, Vernon counties
32Jackson, La Crosse, Trempealeau countiesJackson, La Crosse, Trempealeau counties
33Jefferson, Waukesha countiesJefferson, Waukesha counties

Assembly redistricting

Summary of Assembly changes

  • 36 districts were left unchanged.
  • The number of counties in shared districts doubled from 15 to 30.
  • Brown County went from having 2 districts to 3.
  • Dane County went from having 3 districts to 5.
  • Eau Claire County went from having 1 district to 2.
  • Milwaukee County went from having 20 districts to 24.
  • Rock County went from having 2 districts to 3.
  • Winnebago County went from having 2 districts to 3.
  • Wood County went from having 1 district to 2.

Assembly districts

CountyDistricts in 71st LegislatureDistricts in 72nd LegislatureChange
AdamsShared with MarquetteShared with Juneau & Marquette
Ashland1 DistrictShared with Bayfield
Barron1 District1 District
Bayfield1 DistrictShared with Ashland
Brown2 Districts3 Districts
BuffaloShared with PepinShared with Pepin & Pierce
BurnettShared with WashburnShared with Polk
Calumet1 District1 District
Chippewa1 District1 District
Clark1 District1 District
Columbia1 District1 District
Crawford1 DistrictShared with Richland
Dane3 Districts5 Districts
Dodge2 Districts2 Districts
Door1 DistrictShared with Kewaunee
Douglas2 Districts2 Districts
Dunn1 District1 District
Eau Claire1 District2 Districts
FlorenceShared with Forest & OneidaShared with Forest & Langlade
Fond du Lac2 Districts2 Districts
ForestShared with Florence & OneidaShared with Florence & Langlade
Grant2 Districts1 District
Green1 District1 District
Green LakeShared with WausharaShared with Waushara
Iowa1 DistrictShared with Lafayette
IronShared with VilasShared with Oneida & Vilas
Jackson1 DistrictShared with Trempealeau
Jefferson1 District1 District
Juneau1 DistrictShared with Adams & Marquette
Kenosha2 Districts2 Districts
Kewaunee1 DistrictShared with Door
La Crosse2 Districts2 Districts
Lafayette1 DistrictShared with Iowa
Langlade1 DistrictShared with Florence & Forest
Lincoln1 District1 District
Manitowoc2 Districts2 Districts
Marathon2 Districts2 Districts
Marinette1 District1 District
MarquetteShared with AdamsShared with Adams & Juneau
Milwaukee20 Districts24 Districts
Monroe1 District1 District
Oconto1 District1 District
OneidaShared with Florence & ForestShared with Iron & Vilas
Outagamie2 Districts2 Districts
Ozaukee1 District1 District
PepinShared with BuffaloShared with Buffalo & Pierce
Pierce1 DistrictShared with Buffalo & Pepin
Polk1 DistrictShared with Burnett
Portage1 District1 District
Price1 DistrictShared with Taylor
Racine3 Districts3 Districts
Richland1 DistrictShared with Crawford
Rock2 Districts3 Districts
RuskShared with SawyerShared with Sawyer & Washburn
Sauk1 District1 District
SawyerShared with RuskShared with Rusk & Washburn
Shawano1 District1 District
Sheboygan2 Districts2 Districts
St. Croix1 District1 District
Taylor1 DistrictShared with Price
Trempealeau1 DistrictShared with Jackson
Vernon1 District1 District
VilasShared with IronShared with Iron & Oneida
Walworth1 District1 District
WashburnShared with BurnettShared with Rusk & Sawyer
Washington1 District1 District
Waukesha2 Districts2 Districts
Waupaca1 District1 District
WausharaShared with Green LakeShared with Green Lake
Winnebago2 Districts3 Districts
Wood1 District2 District

Notes

References