Marvin W. Bursch

Marvin W. Bursch
Black-and-white portrait of Bursch
Portrait of Bursch in the 1969 Minnesota Legislative Manual
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 54th district
In office
January 2, 1967 – January 3, 1971
Preceded byWilliam C.F. Heuer (redistricted)
Succeeded byMyrton O. Wegener
Personal details
Born(1913-04-10)April 10, 1913
Wood Lake, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedMay 1, 2000(2000-05-01) (aged 87)
Alexandria, Minnesota, U.S.
PartyRepublican
SpouseAudrey Johnson (died 1999)
Children4
EducationSt. Olaf College (attended)
Occupation
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Battles/warsWorld War II

Marvin W. "Pete" Bursch (April 10, 1913 – May 1, 2000) was an American businessman and politician. A native of Alexandria, Minnesota, Bursch founded and operated a travel agency in that city. He served in the Minnesota Senate from 1967 to 1971 representing the 54th district, which included Douglas, Todd, and Wadena counties.

Early life

Marvin W. Bursch was born on April 10, 1913, in Wood Lake, Minnesota.[1][a] During the Great Depression, Bursch left his home and worked various jobs in Minnesota and the Dakotas.[2] The Brainerd Dispatch reported that Bursch worked at the Montgomery Ward store in Brainerd, Minnesota, from 1937 until October 1938, when he left for another Montgomery Ward store in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.[3] By February 1939, he became the clothing department head at that store.[4] He joined the United States Army during World War II.[2] His profile in the Minnesota Legislative Manual also indicated that he attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, but does not dictate if he graduated, nor does it specify his field of study.[1]

Career

Business ventures

Bursch bought a restaurant in Alexandria, Minnesota, in 1956. The restaurant also served as a depot for Greyhound Lines. The selling of bus tickets led to the creation of Bursch Travel Agency.[2] In 1963, Bursch Travel, Inc., was incorporated as a corporation. Bursch was listed as both an incorporator and as a member of the board of directors.[5]

State legislature

Following the reapportionment prior to the 1966 state legislative elections, Bursch's native Douglas County fell into the 54th district with Todd and Wadena counties, represented by William C.F. Heuer. Alexandria's senator, Clifford Lofvegren, instead opted to run for the district 54A seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives, which led Bursch to file for the senate race against Heuer in July 1966.[6] In the November 8, 1966, election, Bursch received 12,212 votes to Heuer's 8,902 to secure the senate seat.[7] The state legislature at this time was officially nonpartisan, meaning that Bursch did not belong to a party during his tenure. He was a member of the conservative caucus.[2]

During his first and only term in office, Bursch was a member of the standing committees on agriculture, education, game and fish, general legislation, and public domain.[8] In March 1967, Bursch joined in opposition to a bill which would require the study of the Minnesota Constitution in public schools. Bursch opposed on the grounds that the state legislature should not recommend curriculum.[9] In May 1967, Bursch co-authored legislation that allowed people older than 70 to obtain free fishing licenses. The measure was passed by the legislature.[10] In September 1968, Bursch opposed the dumping of sewage in the Long Prairie River following a Minnesota Water Pollution Control Agency recommendation to divert city and industrial waste to the river.[11] In February 1969, Bursch proposed the creation of a hiking trail from Sibley State Park to Lake Carlos State Park called the "Alexander Moraine Trail."[12] In the two sessions in which Bursch served, he was the principal author of 47 bills and a co-author of 83 bills. In all, 53 bills in which he authored or co-authored became law.[13]

Bursch filed for re-election in July 1970.[14] Later that month, Myrton O. Wegener, mayor of Bertha, Minnesota, announced he would run against Bursch for the seat.[15] In a closely contested election on November 3, 1970, Bursch lost re-election. Wegener received 11,999 votes to Bursch's 11,177.[16]

Later life and death

Bursch retired from the travel business around 1980. He died in Alexandria on May 1, 2000, from complications of Parkinson's disease. At the time of his death, Bursch Travel Agency had 15 offices in Minnesota and the Dakotas.[2][17]

Personal life

Bursch held a board position in the Alexandria school board and served as a board member for Theatre L'homme Dieu for 30 years.[2] He was also a member of Kiwanis and the American Legion.[1] Though officially nonpartisan during his tenure as a legislator, Bursch was affiliated with the Republican Party of Minnesota.[18][19]

Bursch was married with four children: Barbara, Fred, Charles, and Mary. His wife, Audrey, died in 1999.[1][20]

Notes

  1. ↑ Bursch's obituary in the Star Tribune listed Alexandria, Minnesota, as his place of birth.[2] This article uses the birthdate and place used in his biography in the Minnesota Legislative Manual and in his profile in the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library database.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Donovan, Joseph L. (1969–70). The Minnesota Legislative Manual (PDF). Saint Paul, Minnesota: State of Minnesota. p. 44.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Haga, Chuck (May 2, 2000). "Marvin W. Bursch, 87; founded travel company". Star Tribune. p. 23. Retrieved July 14, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "News Briefs". Brainerd Dispatch. October 22, 1938. p. 2. Retrieved July 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "News Briefs". Brainerd Dispatch. February 25, 1939. p. 2. Retrieved July 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Notice of incorporation of Bursch Travel, Inc". St. Cloud Times. October 16, 1963. p. 15. Retrieved July 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "State Senators to Look for New Jobs in House". Austin Daily Herald. Associated Press. July 19, 1966. p. 13. Retrieved July 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "State Senate, District 54, 1966". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  8. ↑ Donovan, Joseph L. (1969–70). The Minnesota Legislative Manual (PDF). Saint Paul, Minnesota: State of Minnesota. p. 93.
  9. ↑ Johnson, Fred (March 4, 1967). "Bill to Require Constitution Study Loses". Star Tribune. p. 5. Retrieved July 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Barduson, Rachel (May 17, 2017). "2007: Freedom to Breathe Act bans public indoor smoking". Alexandria Echo Press. p. 4. Retrieved July 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Todd County Protests". Wadena Pioneer Journal. September 12, 1968. p. 14. Retrieved July 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Senators Assume Al Fresco Mood". Duluth News Tribune. Associated Press. March 1, 1969. p. 3. Retrieved July 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Haaven, Jon (December 10, 1970). "Three bills only? Really!". Wadena Pioneer Journal. p. 2. Retrieved July 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Craig to Oppose Humphrey In September DFL Primary". Post-Bulletin. Associated Press. July 9, 1970. p. 36. Retrieved July 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Races Loom In County Elections As Filings Close". Wadena Pioneer Journal. July 23, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved July 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "State Senate, District 54, 1970". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Marvin Bursch, 87". Austin Daily Herald. May 3, 2000. p. 2. Retrieved July 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Everson, Bursch To Appear Friday At GOP Booth". Wadena Pioneer Journal. July 13, 1967. p. 1. Retrieved July 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Rep. Everson, Sen. Bursch At Todd Co. GOP Convention". Wadena Pioneer Journal. March 14, 1968. p. 1. Retrieved July 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "Bursch". Star Tribune. May 11, 1999. p. 20. Retrieved July 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.