{{short description|American politician (1948–2016)}} {{Infobox officeholder |image = |name = Richard Grobschmidt |state = Wisconsin |state_senate = Wisconsin |district = 7th | term_start = January 2, 1996 | term_end = January 6, 2003 | preceded = John R. Plewa | succeeded = Jeffrey Plale |state_assembly1 = Wisconsin |district1 = 21st | term_start1 = January 7, 1985 | term_end1 = January 2, 1996 | preceded1 = John R. Plewa | succeeded1 = Jeffrey Plale |party = Democratic |birth_date = {{birth date|1948|5|3}} |birth_place = Milwaukee, Wisconsin |death_date = {{death date and age|2016|7|23|1948|5|3}} |death_place = Wauwatosa, Wisconsin |profession = Educator, Politician |spouse = Barbara Grobschmidt |website = }}
'''Richard Grobschmidt''' (May 3, 1948{{spaced ndash}}July 23, 2016) was an American educator and former Democratic politician from South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served five terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly (1985–1995) and parts of three terms in the Wisconsin State Senate (1995–2003), before resigning to take a position with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
== Background == Grobschmidt was born in Milwaukee on May 3, 1948, to Chester W. Grobschmidt and Leone Grobschmidt. His father was mayor of South Milwaukee from 1966 to 1994.<ref>[https://www.southmilwaukee.gov/292/Mayoral-History South Milwaukee mayoral history]</ref> Grobschmidt graduated from South Milwaukee High School in 1966; earned a B.S. from University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh in 1972, and a M.S. from University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1979. He taught political science at South Milwaukee High before being elected to the Wisconsin Legislature.
== Legislative service == Grobschmidt was elected to the state Assembly in 1984, and re-elected for the next five terms for the 21st district, representing South Milwaukee and portions of Oak Creek. He was elected for the 7th district State Senate seat (representing several southeastern Milwaukee County suburbs, plus a fraction of eastern Milwaukee) in a November 1995 special election; and reelected in 1998 and 2002.<ref>[http://www.legis.state.wi.us/LRB/bb/01bb/ch1Bsd07-09.pdf 2001-2002 ''Wisconsin Bluebook'' profile]</ref>
== Department of Public Instruction == In December 2002, he announced that he would resign his seat in January 2003 to take a position as Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction under State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster.<ref>Ross, J.R. ''Associated Press'' "Democratic Senator to Take State Education Job; Richard Grobschmidt is Resigning His Seat to Become the State's Top Librarian in DPI." ''Wisconsin State Journal'' Dec. 21, 2002</ref> He retired from that position on September 10, 2010.<ref>"Richard Grobschmidt to Retire as Assistant State Superintendent at DPI," Wisconsin Library Association Blog [http://wlaweb.blogspot.com/2010/08/richard-grobschmidt-to-retire-as.html]</ref>
==Death and legacy== Grobschmidt died on July 23, 2016, in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.<ref>[http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/jsonline/obituary.aspx?pid=180796984 Richard Grobschmidt-obituary]</ref> A bridge on the Hank Aaron State Trail in Lakeshore State Park was named after Grobschmidt in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hanley |first=Erik S. |date=2017-11-07 |title=Bridge on Hank Aaron State Trail to be named after South Milwaukee's Richard Grobschmidt |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/south/news/south-milwaukee/2017/11/07/bridge-hank-aaron-state-trail-named-after-south-milwaukees-richard-grobschmidt/838652001/ |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |access-date=2022-02-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite podcast |url=https://www.wuwm.com/2022-02-18/grobschmidt-park-grobschmidt-pool-why-are-so-many-milwaukeea-area-spaces-named-after-this-family |title=Grobschmidt Park, Grobschmidt Pool: Why are so many Milwaukeea-area spaces named after this family? |website=Bubbler Talk |publisher= WUWM |date=2022-02-18 |access-date=2022-02-22}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grobschmidt, Richard}} Category:1948 births Category:2016 deaths Category:Schoolteachers from Wisconsin Category:Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly Category:Politicians from Milwaukee Category:Educators from Milwaukee Category:University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee alumni Category:University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh alumni Category:Democratic Party Wisconsin state senators Category:People from South Milwaukee, Wisconsin Category:Politicians from Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Category:21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature Category:20th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature