Cal Larson

{{Short description|American politician (1930–2024)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Cal Larson | birth_place = Glyndon, Minnesota, U.S. | birth_date = {{birth date|1930|08|10}} | death_date = {{death date and age|2024|04|01|1930|08|10}} | death_place = Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, U.S. | education = Concordia College (BA) | state_senate = Minnesota | district = 10th | term_start = January 6, 1987 | term_end = January 2, 2007 | predecessor = Collin Peterson | successor = Dan Skogen | office1 = Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives | term_start1 = January 3, 1967 | term_end1 = January 7, 1975 | preceded1 = Roy Emery Dunn | succeeded1 = Gene R. Wenstrom | constituency1 = 55th district (1967–1973) 11A district (1973–1975) | party = Republican | other_party = Independent (1986–1996) | branch = {{Navy|United States}} | battles = Korean War }}

'''Calvin R. Larson''' (August 10, 1930 – April 1, 2024) was an American politician who served as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1967 to 1974 and Minnesota Senate from 1987 to 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail?id=10359|title=Larson, Calvin R. "Cal" - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present|website=www.leg.state.mn.us|access-date=2020-03-16}}</ref>

== Early life and education == Born in Glyndon, Minnesota, Larson graduated from Badger High School in 1948 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia College. Larson then served in the United States Navy during the Korean War.

== Career == Larson was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1967, with a Nonpartisan Election–Conservative Caucus party affiliation. He served district 55 for three terms, ending in 1972. He continued in the House from 1973 to 1974 representing district 11A.

Following an absence from the state legislature from 1975 to 1986, Larson was elected as State Senator for district 10 in 1986, as an Independent Republican. He continued to fill this seat in the Senate until 2006, but by the 1996 election had changed his party affiliation to Republican.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dl-online.com/news/528603-minnesota-sen-silent-cal-set-retire|title=Minnesota Sen. 'Silent Cal' set to retire|last=Jan 2nd 2007 - 12am|first=DL News Staff {{!}}|website=Detroit Lakes Tribune|language=en|access-date=2020-03-16}}</ref>

== Personal life == Larson resided in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, with his wife, Loretta. They have two children. Larson was a Lutheran.

Larson died on April 1, 2024, in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, at the age of 93.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.olsonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/calvin-larson|title=Calvin Larson|work=Olson Funeral Home|access-date=April 5, 2024}}</ref>

== Electoral history == '''2006 Minnesota State Senate District 10''' *Cal Larson (R), 14191 votes, 44.71% *Dan Skogen (DFL), 17530 votes, 55.23% *Write-In, 18 votes, 0.06%

'''2002 Minnesota State Senate District 10''' *Cal Larson (R), 19357 votes, 59.57% *Karl L. Hanson (DFL), 13111 votes, 40.35% *Write-In, 24 votes, 0.07%

== References == {{reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-mn-hs}} {{s-bef|before=Roy Emery Dunn}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 55th district|years=1967–1973}} {{s-aft|after=Stanley J. "Stan" Fudro (District 55A) John Joseph Sarna (District 55B)}} |- {{s-bef|before=C. A. "Gus, Little Gus" Johnson, Sr.}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 11A district|years=1973–1975}} {{s-aft|after=Gene R. Wenstrom}} |- {{s-par|us-mn-sen}} {{s-bef|before=Collin Peterson}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 10th district|years=1987–2007}} {{s-aft|after=Dan Skogen}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Larson, Cal}} Category:1930 births Category:2024 deaths Category:People from Clay County, Minnesota Category:Military personnel from Minnesota Category:Lutherans from Minnesota Category:Members of the Minnesota House of Representatives Category:Minnesota independents Category:Republican Party Minnesota state senators Category:People from Fergus Falls, Minnesota Category:Concordia College (Moorhead, Minnesota) alumni Category:21st-century members of the Minnesota Legislature