{{Short description|American physician and state politician (1938–2022)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Richard Mulder | image = | image_size = 180px | state_house = Minnesota | district = 21B | term_start = January 3, 1995 | term_end = January 6, 2003 | predecessor = Andy Steensma | successor = Brad Finstad | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1938|5|8}} | birth_place = Rock Valley, Iowa, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2022|2|14|1938|5|8}} | death_place = Ivanhoe, Minnesota, U.S. | party = Republican | spouse = {{marriage|Ruth VanBuren|1964}} | children = 4 | relations = | education = University of South Dakota (BPharm)<br>South Dakota State University (BM)<br>University of Iowa (MD) }}
'''Richard Dean Mulder''' (May 8, 1938 – February 14, 2022) was an American politician and family physician in the state of Minnesota.<ref name=":0" /> He served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1995 until 2002.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail?ID=10440|title=Mulder, Richard - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present|website=www.leg.state.mn.us}}</ref>
In 2004, he served as a Minnesota state delegate at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2004-09-08|title=Dr. Mulder is delegate at National Republican Convention|url=https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/dr-mulder-is-delegate-at-national-republican-convention/|access-date=2020-12-03|website=Pipestone County Star}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Mulder was born and raised in Rock Valley, Iowa, along with four siblings.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Ivanhoe Times July 30 Page 1|url=http://ivn.stparchive.com/Archive/IVN/IVN07302009p001.php|access-date=2021-02-16|website=ivn.stparchive.com}}</ref> He graduated from Rock Valley Public High School in 1956, and then attended South Dakota State University, graduating with a Bachelor's in Pharmacy in 1960.<ref name=":1" /> He later received a Bachelor's in Medicine from University of South Dakota in 1966, and later graduated with a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Iowa in 1969.<ref name=":1" />
== Career == Mulder ran unsuccessfully as an Independent Republican candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1992.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mulder, Richard - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present|url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?id=10440|access-date=2021-01-12|website=www.lrl.mn.gov}}</ref> Running again with the party in 1994, Mulder won the District 21B election over Democratic incumbent Andy Steensma, 7,198 votes to 6,261.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=November 8, 1994|title=1994 Minnesota State Election Results|url=https://www.leg.mn.gov/archive/sessions/electionresults/1994-11-08-g-sec.pdf|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=January 12, 2021|website=Minnesota State Legislature}}</ref>
In 1996, Mulder defended a state law supporting the practice of "drive-through" infant deliveries, saying "I made sure my wife stayed in the hospital five days, but then she told me it was a waste of money... I did some research and found that many mothers couldn't afford the longer stay and in most cases, it just wasn't necessary."<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=January 31, 2020|title=Amy Klobuchar was kicked out of the hospital 24 hours after giving birth. Her outrage fueled her political rise.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/01/31/klobuchar-birth-baby-political-rise/?arc404=true|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=January 19, 2021|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref>
In 1998, he was given a 100% rating by Gun Owners of America.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|url=http://votesmart.org/|access-date=2021-02-16|website=Vote Smart}}</ref>
==Death== Mulder died at his home in Ivanhoe, Minnesota on February 14, 2022, at the age of 83.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dr. Richard D. "Doc" Mulder Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information |url=https://www.housemanfuneralhome.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obid=24018502 |access-date=2022-03-09 |website=www.housemanfuneralhome.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mulder, Richard}} Category:1938 births Category:2022 deaths Category:Republican Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives Category:People from Lincoln County, Minnesota Category:People from Rock Valley, Iowa Category:Medical doctors from Iowa Category:Medical doctors from Minnesota Category:University of South Dakota alumni Category:South Dakota State University alumni Category:University of Iowa alumni Category:Lutherans from Minnesota Category:21st-century members of the Minnesota Legislature