Alec G. Olson

Alec Gehard Olson (born September 11, 1930) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Minnesota who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for two terms representing Minnesota's 6th congressional district from 1963 to 1967, a member of the Minnesota Senate from 1969 to 1976, and served as the 40th lieutenant governor of Minnesota from 1976 to 1979.

Biography Olson was born in Mamre Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. Olson attended public schools and graduated from Willmar High School in 1948. He farmed between 1948 and 1955, and was an insurance representative from 1955 to 1962. He was active in the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party from 1952 to 1962, serving as a district chairman for four years. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in the years 1960, 1964 and 1968.

Olson served in the United States House of Representatives from January 3, 1963, to January 3, 1967, during the 88th United States Congress and 89th United States Congress. During his time in the Congress, he voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He was defeated for re-election in 1966 after two terms. Olson served in the Minnesota Senate from 1969 to 1976 and was President of the Minnesota Senate from 1973 to 1976. When Wendell R. Anderson resigned from the governorship to become a U.S. senator in 1976 and was succeeded by Lieutenant Governor Rudy Perpich, Olson became the new lieutenant governor; he served from December 29, 1976 to January 3, 1979, and was Perpich's running mate in their unsuccessful ticket for the Minnesota's 1978 gubernatorial race.