Harry A. Sieben
Harry A. Sieben | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 49th Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives | |
| In office January 1981 – January 1985 | |
| Preceded by | Fred C. Norton |
| Succeeded by | David M. Jennings |
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives | |
| In office January 1971 – January 1985 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 24, 1943 Hastings, Minnesota |
| Political party | DFL |
| Spouse | Mary |
| Relations | Harry Sieben Sr. (father) Mike Sieben (brother) Katie Sieben (niece) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Winona State College (BA) University of Minnesota (JD) |
Harry A. "Tex" Sieben Jr. (born November 24, 1943) is an American politician who served as speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives and retired as a two-star major general and adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard, the senior most position in and commander of the Minnesota National Guard.
Early life and education
Sieben was born in Hastings, Minnesota, and attended Hastings High School. He earned his B.A. in business administration from Winona State College (now Winona State University) in 1965, and Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1968.
Career
Sieben worked for the law firm of Grose, Von Holtum and Sieben (now SiebenCarey) until he was elected to the Minnesota House in 1970 as a member of the Liberal Caucus in the officially non-partisan legislature, and later as a Democrat when political parties were recognized in the legislature. Sieben served 14 years in the Legislature and was speaker of the House between 1981 and 1985. In 1985, he rejoined his previous law firm.
Military career
In 1968, Sieben joined the United States Army Reserve, where he served seven years with the Military Intelligence Branch working as a Morse code intercept operator and platoon leader. He then received a direct commission in the Minnesota Air National Guard in April 1975. He served in the Judge Advocate General's Corps for the 133rd Airlift Wing, 148th Fighter Wing and Headquarters Minnesota Air National Guard. In 1990, he was appointed as the state judge advocate for the Minnesota National Guard.
In 1997, he was promoted to brigadier general and assistant adjutant general in the Minnesota Air National Guard. In this position, Sieben was responsible for liaison with senior leadership at higher headquarters, coordination with state and federal agencies, direction of long range planning, coordination of real estate matters, and implementation of plans and programs.
In 2003, Governor Tim Pawlenty appointed Sieben as acting adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard, the state's top-ranking officer, responsible for the 12,500 men and women in the National Guard. During Sieben's tenure, the Minnesota National Guard had troops deployed to Iraq, Bosnia, and Kosovo.
After retiring from the military, Sieben became a civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army for Minnesota on October 27, 2006.[1]
Personal life
Sieben is married to wife Virginia and has two children and two stepchildren. Both his brother, Mike Sieben, and niece, Katie Sieben, have served in the Minnesota State Legislature. Sieben's father, Harry Sieben Sr., was also active in Minnesota politics, and his uncle, James G. Sieben, was also Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard, from 1975-1988.
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