Doug Swenson

{{short description|American lawyer and politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox politician | name = Doug Swenson | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1945|8|16}} | birth_place = St. Peter, Minnesota, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2009|2|1|1945|8|16}} | death_place = Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. | alma_mater = Gustavus Adolphus College, Hamline University (JD) | party = Republican | office = Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives | term = 1987–1998 }}

'''Douglas G. Swenson''' (August 16, 1945 – February 1, 2009) was an American politician, lawyer, and judge. He served in the Minnesota House of Representatives as a Republican and later as a Minnesota district court judge.

==Early life and education== Swenson was born in St. Peter, Minnesota and graduated from Bethany Lutheran High School in Mankato, Minnesota, in 1963. He pursued higher education at Gustavus Adolphus College and then earned his Juris Doctor degree from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in 1971.<ref name="lrl.mn.gov 1998 l181">{{cite web | title=Minnesota Legislators Past & Present | website=lrl.mn.gov | date=January 15, 1998 | url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=10645 | access-date=January 1, 2024}}</ref>

==Career== After completing his legal education, Swenson practiced law in Forest Lake, Minnesota. His legal career was complemented by his involvement in politics. Swenson served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1987 to 1998, representing the Republican Party. Swenson was known for his work on public safety issues and was instrumental in creating laws to toughen penalties for driving while intoxicated and addressing underage drinking.<ref name="Anon. a194">{{cite news | title= Six-Term Legislator Turned Judge Fought Drunken Driving |work= Star Tribune| date = February 7, 2009 | url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/LegDB/articles/10645STObit.pdf | access-date=January 1, 2024}}</ref> He was succeeded in the Legislature by his brother, Howard Swenson.<ref name="Anon. n707">{{cite web | title= New judge leaves behind family ties in Legislature| date = January 23, 1998| url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/LegDB/articles/10645SessWeeklyRetire.pdf | access-date=January 1, 2024}}</ref>

After his tenure in the House, he continued his career in the judiciary as a Minnesota district court judge.<ref name="lrl.mn.gov 1998 l181" />

==Personal life== Swenson resided in Forest Lake, Minnesota with his wife and family, where he was an active member of the community. He was a Lutheran.<ref name="lrl.mn.gov 1998 l181" />

==Death== Swenson died on February 1, 2009, due to leukemia at the United Hospital in Saint Paul, Minnesota.<ref name="Anon. a333">{{cite news | title= Forest Lake Lawmaker Later Served as Judge (Obituary) |work= St. Paul Pioneer Press| date = February 5, 2009 }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Swenson, Doug}} Category:1945 births Category:2009 deaths Category:People from Forest Lake, Minnesota Category:People from St. Peter, Minnesota Category:Gustavus Adolphus College alumni Category:Hamline University School of Law alumni Category:Minnesota lawyers Category:Minnesota state court judges Category:Republican Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives Category:Deaths from leukemia in Minnesota Category:Lutherans from Minnesota Category:20th-century members of the Minnesota Legislature Doug