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Albert Harold ‘Al’ Quie, who enjoyed a lengthy career in Congress before becoming Minnesota’s governor, has passed away at the age of 99.
The notable Congressional member and the 35th governor of Minnesota breathed his last on Friday (August 18th) while residing in an assisted living community in Wayzata during his later years.
Beyond his political career, Quie boasted a distinguished military history; he demonstrated courage as a Navy pilot during World War II and later transitioned into a devoted dairy farmer.
A lifelong member of the Republican party, Quie was a third-generation dairy farmer and held an impressive record of never experiencing electoral defeat.
He dedicated twenty years to representing District 1 as a US Representative from southern Minnesota.
Following his remarkable electoral streak, he represented Minnesota’s First District for over two decades before assuming the role of governor.
Quie secured the governorship for a single term in 1978, causing an upset by defeating the incumbent Democrat Rudy Perpich.
At the time of his passing, Al Quie held the distinction of being Minnesota’s oldest living governor, and he also held the title of the oldest living former member of Congress.
His electoral prowess extended to his re-elections, where he triumphed over his opponents a staggering ten times.
Notably, he achieved commanding victories, amassing up to 70 percent of the vote in his victory over DFLer Charles Thompson in 1972.