[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 117 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1475]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HAPPY 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TO MR. AND MRS. FRANK FARRELL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHRISTOPHER COX

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 2, 1996

  Mr. COX of California. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in celebration of 
the 50th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Farrell of Naples, 
FL.
  Frank and Floria were both born and raised in Minnesota. Frank, a 
native of Duluth, and Floria, a native of Hibbing, were married in 
1946.
  During World War II, Frank served as a fighter pilot in the southern 
Pacific theater. Altogether, he flew 33 combat missions in his P-51 
Mustang.
  After the war, Frank returned to school and graduated from the 
University of Minnesota Law School in 1948. Upon graduation, he went to 
work for what was then the Northern Pacific Railroad and would later 
become the Burlington/Northern Railroad. During his long and 
distinguished career, he ran the law department and eventually retired 
as senior vice president of law in the early 1980's.
  Frank and Floria were active in Minnesota politics for many years. 
Frank served as a member of the Minnesota GOP State Central Committee 
and eventually ran for the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1956 
and the U.S. Congress in 1958.
  In addition to his work in party politics, Frank led the fight to get 
the Minnesota State Legislature to reapportion itself. At the time, the 
metropolitan areas of Minnesota were growing rapidly. Yet, the State 
legislature was apportioned so that the per capita representation of 
the metropolitan areas was about one-third to one-half of the rest of 
the State. The legislators from the nonmetro areas refused to change 
the apportionment. This decision was a severe drain on the higher tax-
assessed and underrepresented Twin Cities metro area counties. Frank's 
case, McGraw versus Donovan, eventually was instrumental in forcing the 
legislature to reapportion itself. A group in Tennessee later used 
Frank's briefs and strategy in their own case, Baker versus Carr, which 
went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. For his work on 
reapportionment, Frank was nominated for a Lasker Award.
  Throughout the years, Frank and Floria have also been very active 
members in the community. Frank served on the board of directors of the 
Minnesota Chapter of the American Red Cross and on the board of the 
directors of Alina, one of the largest health maintenance organizations 
in Minnesota. In addition, he was chairman of the St. Paul Civic Center 
Authority which built the multimillion-dollar civic center in St. Paul. 
He also served as vice president of Junior Achievement in St. Paul and 
as president of the Ramsey County Bar Association.
  Upon retirement, Frank and Floria moved to Naples, FL, where they 
have both remained active in community affairs.
  Frank and Floria raised their three children, Frank, Mary Jane, and 
Alfred. They also are the proud grandparents of five grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of their children, grandchildren, and many 
friends, I wish Frank and Floria a happy golden wedding anniversary in 
the hopes of many more to come.

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