# Thomas Harnisch > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Thomas_Harnisch > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Thomas_Harnisch.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Harnisch > Source revision: 1346374808 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Thomas William Harnisch** (born January 16, 1947) is an American lawyer and former politician from [Clark County, Wisconsin](/source/Clark_County,_Wisconsin). A [Democrat](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)), he served two terms in the [Wisconsin Senate](/source/Wisconsin_Senate), representing [Wisconsin's 31st Senate district](/source/Wisconsin's_31st_Senate_district) from 1975 to 1983. ## Early life Born in [La Crosse, Wisconsin](/source/La_Crosse,_Wisconsin), Harnisch graduated from Gale-Ettrick High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from [University of Wisconsin–Madison](/source/University_of_Wisconsin%E2%80%93Madison) and a [Juris Doctor](/source/Juris_Doctor) degree from [University of Minnesota Law School](/source/University_of_Minnesota_Law_School).[1] ## Wisconsin Senate Harnisch was a member of a class of freshman Senate Democrats that included [Gary Goyke](/source/Gary_Goyke), [Kathryn Morrison](/source/Kathryn_Morrison_(politician)), and [Timothy Cullen](/source/Timothy_Cullen). The 1974 election marked the first time Democrats won control of the Wisconsin Senate since 1893.[2] Harnisch took an interest in [higher education](/source/Higher_education) and [conservation](/source/Conservation_(ethic)) during his two terms in the Senate. He crafted legislation creating the [University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine](http://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/) [3][4] and was one of the leaders in creating the [Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs](/source/Robert_M._La_Follette_School_of_Public_Affairs) at the [University of Wisconsin–Madison](/source/University_of_Wisconsin%E2%80%93Madison).[5][6] He also helped create a graduate program in energy analysis and policy at the [University of Wisconsin–Madison](/source/University_of_Wisconsin%E2%80%93Madison).[7] Harnisch authored the Wisconsin Farmland Preservation Act, a state program designed to preserve farmland, provide property tax relief to farmers, and prevent soil erosion.[8] He also authored legislation creating the Inland Waters Trout Stamp program, which used its proceeds for restoring and improving trout habitats.[9] The program is considered a national model today.[10][11] He was the architect of the Wisconsin Conservation Corps, a conservation and youth employment program modeled after the [Civilian Conservation Corps](/source/Civilian_Conservation_Corps). Harnisch introduced the legislation in 1981, which was vetoed by [Governor Lee S. Dreyfus](/source/Lee_S._Dreyfus). The bill was reintroduced by [Thomas A. Loftus](/source/Thomas_A._Loftus) and signed into law in 1983.[12] Harnisch was appointed by [Governor Tony Earl](/source/Tony_Earl) as the first chair of the Wisconsin Conservation Corps Board.[13] The program remained active until 2003.[14] He was also an early proponent of state policies to encourage [recycling](/source/Recycling)[15] as well as investments in alternative energy sources, including [solar energy](/source/Solar_energy).[16] ## Post-Senate activities Harnisch received the Wisconsin Idea Award in Natural Resource Policy in 1989 for his leadership in agricultural and rural development policy, including the Farmland Preservation Act.[17] He remained active in politics as Wisconsin co-chair of the [1988 presidential campaign](/source/Al_Gore_presidential_campaign,_1988) of [Al Gore](/source/Al_Gore), later as a Gore delegate at the [1988 Democratic National Convention](/source/1988_Democratic_National_Convention).[18] He was long affiliated with the [Wisconsin Towns Association](/source/Wisconsin_Towns_Association) later in his career. ## Personal life and family Harnisch married Pamela Ann Theirl, a kindergarten teacher, on January 29, 1977.[19] They have five adult children and still reside in [Neillsville, Wisconsin](/source/Neillsville,_Wisconsin).[20] ## Electoral history | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| **Primary Election, September 10, 1974** | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| **General Election, November 5, 1974** | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| **Primary Election, September 12, 1978** | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| **General Election, November 7, 1978** ## References 1. [Wisconsin Blue Book 1981-1982, Biographical Sketch of Thomas W. Harnisch](https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AWSZOQ2EA4U3UJ8F/pages/AC5YUII5CGBKAM9D) 1. [[https://www.newspapers.com/image/244000901/](https://www.newspapers.com/image/244000901/)"Dems Win Control of Senate first time since 1893" The Associated Press, November 6, 1974] 1. ["2 Vow to Fight for Vet School," *Milwaukee Sentinel*, January 16, 1979](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19790116&id=iYNRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8BEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5175,2918190&hl=en) 1. [History-School of Veterinary Medicine](https://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/about/history/) 1. [LaFollette School Celebrates 40 Years](https://lafollette.wisc.edu/news/la-follette-school-celebrates-40-years/) 1. ["Pork Barrel Filled to Rim" *Wisconsin State Journal* July 12, 1981](https://www.newspapers.com/image/400553313/) 1. ["EAP Program History"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160309225310/https://nelson.wisc.edu/graduate/energy-analysis-policy/history.php) 1. ["State Senator Tom Harnisch Reports: Harnisch Introduces Farm Tax Relief Measures," *The Blair Press*, February 17, 1977](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=970&dat=19770217&id=tUclAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AxUGAAAAIBAJ&pg=1919,1767640&hl=en) 1. ["WI Trout Stamp Turns 30" Wisconsin Trout July 2007](https://web.archive.org/web/20241008023023/https://wicouncil.tu.org/sites/default/files/2007_July_0.pdf) 1. [Expenditures of Inland Water Stamp Revenues Fiscal Years 2004-07](https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Fishing/Pubs_troutstamp0407_web.pdf) 1. [Wisconsin Trout Stamp Turns 30 July 2007](https://web.archive.org/web/20241008023023/https://wicouncil.tu.org/sites/default/files/2007_July_0.pdf) 1. [President's Commission on Americans Outdoors, *Americans Outdoors: The Legacy, The Challenge, with Case Studies*, p. 372](https://books.google.com/books?id=-FKOg7k6USQC&q=372) 1. ["Harnisch sees success for state CCC program," Eau Claire Leader Telegram August 17, 1983"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/360819493/) 1. [Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development "Wisconsin Conservation Corps 1983-2003 20 years of service to Wisconsin"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060922233225/https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/dwdhistory/wcc/wcc_history.htm) 1. ["State Senator Tom Harnisch Reports: Mandatory Deposit Legislation," *The Blair Press*, February 3, 1977](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s0clAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AxUGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2107,1587158&dq=harnisch+legislation&hl=en) 1. ["Co-op leader sees oil import lid," *Wisconsin State Journal*, November 14, 1979](https://www.newspapers.com/image/401326187/) 1. ["Wisconsin Idea honorees named" WI Week, April 26, 1989](https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AACQBEF6M3BJVX8U/pages/AMQ5ZCP765PKE48T) 1. [*Wisconsin Blue Book 1989-90*, p. 902](https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224148/http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=goto&id=WI.WIBlueBk1989&isize=M&submit=Go+to+page&page=902) 1. ["To Marry Jan. 29"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/marshfield-news-herald-marriage-of-their/135726312/). *Marshfield News-Herald*. January 12, 1977. p. 11. Retrieved November 24, 2023. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) 1. ["Edward C. Theirl"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/chippewa-herald-telegram-obituary-for-ed/45374648/). *Chippewa Herald-Telegram*. February 23, 2000. p. 2. Retrieved November 24, 2023. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Thomas Harnisch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Harnisch) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Harnisch?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.