73rd Wisconsin Legislature

The Seventy-Third Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 9, 1957, to September 27, 1957, in regular session, and reconvened in a special session in June 1958.^[1]

73rd Wisconsin Legislature
← 72nd 74th →
Wisconsin State Capitol
Overview
Legislative body	Wisconsin Legislature
Meeting place	Wisconsin State Capitol
Term	January 7, 1957 – January 5, 1959
Election	November 6, 1956
Senate
Members	33
Senate President	Warren P. Knowles (R)
President pro tempore	Frank E. Panzer (R)
Party control	Republican
Assembly
Members	100
Assembly Speaker	Robert G. Marotz (R)
Party control	Republican
Sessions
Regular January 9, 1957 – September 27, 1957
Special sessions
Jun. 1958 Spec. June 11, 1958 – June 13, 1958

Senators representing even-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 even-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 6, 1956. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of a four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 2, 1954.^[1]

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Vernon W. Thomson, of Richland County, serving a two-year term, having won election in the 1956 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events

• January 7, 1957:
  • Inauguration of Vernon W. Thomson as the 34th Governor of Wisconsin.
  • John E. Martin became chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court by seniority rule at the expiration of Edward T. Fairchild's term.
• January 20, 1957: Second inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower as President of the United States.
• May 2, 1957: Wisconsin's senior United States senator, Joseph McCarthy, died in office.
• August 28, 1957: William Proxmire (D) elected United States senator from Wisconsin.
• September 9, 1957: U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957 into law.
• October 4, 1957: The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth.
• October 10, 1957: The Milwaukee Braves won the 1957 World Series.
• November 3, 1957: The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2, carrying the first animal to orbit the Earth.
• January 22, 1958: Wisconsin U.S. representative Lawrence H. Smith (WI-01) died in office.
• January 31, 1958: The United States launched Explorer 1, its first successful satellite.
• March 8, 1958: The USS Wisconsin (BB-64) was decommissioned, leaving the U.S. Navy without an active battleship for the first time since 1896.
• July 29, 1958: U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, establishing NASA.
• October 9, 1958: Pope Pius XII died.
• October 28, 1958: The 1958 papal conclave elected Cardinal Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli as the next pope, he then took the papal name John XXIII.
• November 4, 1958: 1958 United States general election:
  • Gaylord Nelson (D) elected Governor of Wisconsin.
  • William Proxmire (D) re-elected United States senator from Wisconsin.

Major legislation

• 1957 Joint Resolution 32: First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to set a county and municipal debt limit of five percent of taxable property. This amendment was eventually ratified at the November 1960 election.
• 1957 Joint Resolution 58: First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the state to take on debt to pay for port improvements. This amendment was eventually ratified at the April 1960 election.

Party summary

Senate summary

Senate partisan composition

  Democratic: 10 seats

  Republican: 23 seats

	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)		Total
	Dem.	Rep.		Vacant
End of previous Legislature	8	23	31	2
Start of Reg. Session	10	23	33	0
From Aug. 19, 1957[note 1]		22	32	1
Final voting share	31.25%	68.75%
Beginning of the next Legislature	13	20	33	0

Assembly summary

Assembly partisan composition

  Democratic: 33 seats

  Republican: 67 seats

	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)		Total
	Dem.	Rep.		Vacant
End of previous Legislature	35	63	98	2
Start of Reg. Session	33	67	100	0
From Jul. 10, 1957[note 2]		66	99	1
Final voting share	33.33%	66.67%
Beginning of the next Legislature	55	45	100	0

Sessions

• Regular session: January 9, 1957 – September 27, 1957
• June 1958 special session: June 11, 1958 – June 13, 1958

Leaders

Senate leadership

• President of the Senate: Warren P. Knowles (R)
• President pro tempore: Frank E. Panzer (R–Oakfield)
• Majority leader: Robert S. Travis (R–Platteville)
• Minority leader: Henry Maier (D–Milwaukee)

Assembly leadership

• Speaker of the Assembly: Robert G. Marotz (R–Shawano)
• Majority leader: Warren A. Grady (R–Port Washington)
• Minority leader: Robert T. Huber (D–West Allis)

Members

Members of the Senate

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

Senate partisan representation

  Democratic: 10 seats

  Republican: 23 seats

Dist.	Counties	Senator	Residence	Party
01	Door, Kewaunee, & Manitowoc	Alfred A. Laun Jr.	Kiel	Rep.
02	Brown	Leo P. O'Brien	Green Bay	Rep.
03	Milwaukee (South City)	Casimir Kendziorski	Milwaukee	Dem.
04	Milwaukee (North County)	Kirby Hendee	Milwaukee	Rep.
05	Milwaukee (Northwest City)	Walter L. Merten	Milwaukee	Rep.
06	Milwaukee (Northeast City)	William R. Moser	Milwaukee	Dem.
07	Milwaukee (South County & Southeast City)	Leland McParland	Cudahy	Dem.
08	Milwaukee (Western County)	Allen Busby	West Milwaukee	Rep.
09	Milwaukee (City Downtown)	Henry Maier	Milwaukee	Dem.
10	Buffalo, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, & St. Croix	Robert P. Knowles	New Richmond	Rep.
11	Milwaukee (Western City)	Richard J. Zaborski	Milwaukee	Dem.
12	Iron, Lincoln, Oneida, Price, Taylor, & Vilas	Clifford Krueger	Merrill	Rep.
13	Dodge & Washington	Frank E. Panzer	Oakfield	Rep.
14	Outagamie & Waupaca	Gerald Lorge	Bear Creek	Rep.
15	Rock	Peter P. Carr	Janesville	Rep.
16	Dane (Excluding Madison)	Gaylord Nelson	Madison	Dem.
17	Grant, Green, Iowa, & Lafayette	Robert S. Travis	Platteville	Rep.
18	Fond du Lac, Green Lake & Waushara	Walter G. Hollander	Rosendale	Rep.
19	Calumet & Winnebago	William Draheim	Neenah	Rep.
20	Ozaukee & Sheboygan	Louis H. Prange (died Aug. 19, 1957)	Plymouth	Rep.
21	Racine	Lynn E. Stalbaum	Racine	Dem.
22	Kenosha & Walworth	William Trinke	Lake Geneva	Rep.
23	Barron, Burnett, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer, & Washburn	Holger Rasmusen	Spooner	Rep.
24	Clark, Portage, & Wood	William W. Clark	Vesper	Rep.
25	Ashland, Bayfield, & Douglas	Carl Lauri	Merrill	Dem.
26	Dane (Madison)	Horace W. Wilkie	Madison	Dem.
27	Columbia, Crawford, Richland, & Sauk	Jess Miller	Richland Center	Rep.
28	Chippewa & Eau Claire	Davis A. Donnelly	Eau Claire	Dem.
29	Marathon & Shawano	Hugh M. Jones	Wausau	Rep.
30	Florence, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, & Oconto	Reuben La Fave	Oconto	Rep.
31	Adams, Juneau, Monroe, Marquette, & Vernon	J. Earl Leverich	Sparta	Rep.
32	Jackson, La Crosse, & Trempealeau	Raymond Bice Sr.	La Crosse	Rep.
33	Jefferson & Waukesha	Chester Dempsey	Hartland	Rep.

Members of the Assembly

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

Assembly partisan composition

  Democratic: 33 seats

  Republican: 67 seats

Milwaukee County districts

Senate Dist.	County	Dist.	Representative	Party	Residence
31	Adams, Juneau, & Marquette		Ben Tremain	Rep.	Hustler
25	Ashland & Bayfield		Vic C. Wallin	Rep.	Grand View
23	Barron		Charles H. Sykes	Rep.	Cameron
02	Brown	1	Jerome Quinn	Rep.	Green Bay
		2	Robert E. Lynch	Dem.	Green Bay
		3	Edward A. Seymour	Rep.	De Pere
10	Buffalo, Pepin, & Pierce		Mamre H. Ward	Rep.	Durand
23	Burnett & Polk		Lowell A. Nelson	Rep.	Grantsburg
19	Calumet		Henry M. Peters	Rep.	Menasha
28	Chippewa		Wilder W. Crane Jr.	Rep.	Chippewa Falls
24	Clark		Corwin C. Guell	Rep.	Thorp
27	Columbia		Everett Bidwell	Rep.	Portage
	Crawford & Richland		Milford C. Kintz	Rep.	Richland Center
26	Dane	1	Norman C. Anderson	Dem.	Madison
		2	Fred A. Risser	Dem.	Madison
		3	Carroll Metzner	Rep.	Madison
16		4	Carl W. Thompson	Dem.	Stoughton
		5	Ervin M. Bruner	Dem.	Verona
13	Dodge	1	Elmer L. Genzmer	Rep.	Mayville
		2	Elmer C. Nitschke	Rep.	Beaver Dam
01	Door & Kewaunee		Frank N. Graass	Rep.	Sturgeon Bay
25	Douglas	1	Reino A. Perala	Dem.	Superior
		2	Lawrence M. Hagen	Rep.	Superior
10	Dunn		William E. Owen	Rep.	Menomonie
28	Eau Claire	1	Dennis B. Danielson	Rep.	Eau Claire
		2	John T. Pritchard	Rep.	Eau Claire
30	Florence, Forest, & Langlade		Alfred J. Lauby	Dem.	Antigo
18	Fond du Lac	1	Earl F. McEssy	Rep.	Fond du Lac
		2	Fred W. Schlueter	Rep.	Ripon
17	Grant		Hugh A. Harper	Rep.	Lancaster
	Green		Christian M. Stauffer	Rep.	Monticello
18	Green Lake & Waushara		Franklin M. Jahnke	Rep.	Markesan
17	Iowa & Lafayette		Walter B. Calvert	Rep.	Benton
12	Iron, Oneida, & Vilas		Marvin E. Dillman	Rep.	Lac du Flambeau
32	Jackson & Trempealeau		Keith C. Hardie	Dem.	Taylor
33	Jefferson		Byron F. Wackett	Rep.	Watertown
22	Kenosha	1	George Molinaro	Dem.	Kenosha
		2	Earl D. Morton	Rep.	Kenosha
32	La Crosse	1	James D. H. Peterson	Rep.	La Crosse
		2	Eugene A. Toepel	Rep.	La Crosse
12	Lincoln		Emil A. Hinz	Rep.	Merrill
01	Manitowoc	1	Hugo E. Vogel	Dem.	Manitowoc
		2	Ewald J. Schmeichel	Rep.	Two Rivers
29	Marathon	1	Ben A. Riehle	Dem.	Athens
		2	Paul A. Luedtke	Rep.	Wausau
30	Marinette		Robert Haase	Rep.	Marinette
04	Milwaukee	1	Louis L. Merz	Dem.	Milwaukee
09		2	Norman Sussman	Dem.	Milwaukee
		3	Joseph A. Greco	Dem.	Milwaukee
11		4	Joseph P. Murphy	Dem.	Milwaukee
05		5	Lawrence W. Timmerman	Rep.	Milwaukee
09		6	Isaac N. Coggs	Dem.	Milwaukee
06		7	Allen J. Flannigan	Dem.	Milwaukee
11		8	George Talsky	Dem.	Milwaukee
05		9	Charles J. Schmidt	Dem.	Milwaukee
06		10	Michael F. O'Connell	Dem.	Milwaukee
03		11	Ervin J. Ryczek	Dem.	Milwaukee
		12	George Sokolowski	Dem.	Milwaukee
06		13	Marty Larsen	Dem.	Milwaukee
03		14	David Mogilka	Dem.	Milwaukee
05		15	Earle W. Fricker	Rep.	Milwaukee
11		16	Thomas J. Duffey	Dem.	Milwaukee
07		17	Howard F. Pellant	Dem.	Milwaukee
04		18	John R. Meyer	Rep.	Milwaukee
		19	Jerris Leonard	Rep.	Bayside
08		20	Glen Pommerening	Rep.	Wauwatosa
		21	Robert R. Heider	Rep.	West Allis
		22	Robert T. Huber	Dem.	West Allis
07		23	William Luebke	Dem.	Milwaukee
		24	Sherman R. Sobocinski	Dem.	South Milwaukee
31	Monroe		Kyle Kenyon	Rep.	Tomah
30	Oconto		Lloyd R. Baumgart	Rep.	Lena
14	Outagamie	1	Fred H. Frank (died Jul. 10, 1957)	Rep.	Appleton
		2	William T. Sullivan	Rep.	Kaukauna
20	Ozaukee		Warren A. Grady	Rep.	Port Washington
24	Portage		John Kostuck	Dem.	Stevens Point
12	Price & Taylor		Vincent J. Zellinger	Rep.	Phillips
21	Racine	1	Earl W. Warren	Dem.	Racine
		2	Roy E. Naleid	Dem.	Racine
		3	Anthony B. Rewald	Rep.	Burlington
15	Rock	1	William Merriam	Rep.	Janesville
		2	David Blanchard	Rep.	Edgerton
		3	George B. Belting	Rep.	Beloit
23	Rusk, Sawyer, & Washburn		Willis J. Hutnik	Rep.	Tony
27	Sauk		James R. Stone	Rep.	Reedsburg
29	Shawano		Robert G. Marotz	Rep.	Shawano
20	Sheboygan	1	Walter R. Schmidt	Rep.	Sheboygan
		2	Harold F. Huibregtse	Rep.	Sheboygan Falls
10	St. Croix		William W. Ward	Dem.	New Richmond
16	Vernon		Bernard Lewison	Rep.	Viroqua
22	Walworth		Ora R. Rice	Rep.	Delavan
13	Washington		Elmer J. Schowalter	Rep.	Jackson
33	Waukesha	1	Alvin J. Redford	Rep.	Waukesha
		2	Harold W. Clemens	Rep.	Oconomowoc
14	Waupaca		Richard E. Peterson	Rep.	Clintonville
19	Winnebago	1	Harvey R. Abraham	Rep.	Oshkosh
		2	Joseph H. Anderson	Rep.	Winneconne
		3	Arnold J. Cane	Rep.	Menasha
24	Wood	1	John S. Crawford	Rep.	Marshfield
		2	Arthur J. Crowns	Rep.	Wisconsin Rapids

Committees

Senate committees

• Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture – H. M. Jones, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on Conservation – C. Krueger, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on Education – W. W. Clark, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on Governmental and Veterans Affairs – L. P. O'Brien, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on Highways – J. Miller, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on Interstate Cooperation – F. E. Panzer, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on the Judiciary – W. L. Merten, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on Labor, Taxation, Insurance, and Banking – W. Trinke, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on Public Welfare – P. P. Carr, chair
• Senate Special Committee on Committees – J. Miller, chair
• Senate Special Committee on Contingent Expenditures – L. H. Prange, chair
• Senate Special 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 – J. S. Crawford, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Conservation – M. E. Dillman, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent Expenditures – B. Lewison, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Education – W. B. Calvert, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Elections – V. C. Wallin, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed Bills – M. C. Kintz, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled Bills – C. H. Sykes, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and Fees – H. R. Abraham, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Highways – E. C. Nitschke, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and Banking – R. E. Peterson, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on the Judiciary – E. A. Toepel, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Labor – E. L. Genzmer, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Municipalities – P. A. Luedtke, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Printing – E. A. Hinz, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Public Welfare – M. H. Ward, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Revision – A. J. Redford, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Rules – W. A. Grady, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on State Affairs – D. Blanchard, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Taxation – G. Pommerening, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Third Reading – H. M. Peters, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Transportation – L. M. Hagen, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs – B. F. Wackett, chair

Joint committees

• Joint Standing Committee on Finance – A. A. Laun (Sen.) & J. R. Stone (Asm.), co-chairs
• Joint Standing Committee on Revisions, Repeals, and Uniform Laws – A. Busby (Sen.) & A. J. Cane (Asm.), co-chairs
• Joint Legislative Council – R. G. Marotz, chair

Employees

Senate employees

• Chief Clerk: Lawrence R. Larsen^[3]
• Sergeant-at-Arms: Harold Damon

Assembly employees

• Chief Clerk: Arthur L. May^[3]
• Sergeant-at-Arms: Norris J. Kellman

Notes

1. Republican Louis H. Prange (20th District) died.
2. Republican Fred H. Frank (Outagamie County) died.