George Molinaro
62nd Speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly
In office
January 1959 – January 1961
Preceded byRobert G. Marotz
Succeeded byDavid Blanchard
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office
January 1, 1973 – January 3, 1977
Preceded byDistrict created
Succeeded byJoseph F. Andrea
Constituency64th district
In office
January 3, 1955 – January 1, 1973
Preceded byJoseph Lourigan
Succeeded byDistrict abolished
ConstituencyKenosha 1st district
In office
January 6, 1947 – January 3, 1955
Preceded byMatt G. Siebert
Succeeded byJoseph Lourigan
ConstituencyKenosha 2nd district
Personal details
Born(1902-10-01)October 1, 1902
Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedSeptember 29, 1978(1978-09-29) (aged 75)
University Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin
Resting placeSaint George Cemetery, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Madeleine R. Jensen
​
​
(m. 1946⁠–⁠1978)​
RelativesAl Molinaro (brother)
Joseph Molinaro (brother)

George E. Molinaro (October 1, 1902 – September 29, 1978) was an American businessman and politician. He was the 74th Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly. A Democrat, he served a total of 30 years in the Assembly, representing Kenosha, Wisconsin, and was a member of the Democratic Assembly caucus leadership for many years. He was also one of the charter members of UAW Local 72 in Kenosha, and was involved in the leadership of that Local for more than a decade.

Early life and career

Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Molinaro was educated in the Kenosha public schools and attended the Kenosha Business College before going to work as an auto worker and production inspector at the Nash Motors plant in Kenosha. There, he became involved with the United Auto Workers union and was one of the charter members of Kenosha's UAW Local 72.[1] He served four years as vice president of Local 72, and was a member of the executive committee for twelve years. Molinaro worked at Nash Motors through its transition to American Motors Corporation, and retired from American Motors after 45 years of labor in 1965.[1]

Political career

Molinaro made his first attempt at elected office in 1937, running unsuccessfully for the Kenosha County Board of Supervisors.[2] He ran again in 1939, this time winning the seat. He ultimately served on the county board through 1947.

In 1946, Molinaro launched a primary challenge against incumbent state representative Matt G. Siebert.[3] In the August primary, Molinaro narrowly defeated Siebert, taking 53% of the vote.[4] Siebert, however, after losing the primary chose to run as an independent. Molinaro prevailed with 46% in the general election over Siebert and Republican candidate George E. Mahoney.[5] Two years later, in 1948, Siebert returned to run as a Republican; Molinaro defeated him for a third time.[6] Molinaro was subsequently reelected another thirteen times.

In the Assembly, Molinaro served in several leadership positions in the Democratic caucus. He was Democratic minority leader for the 1951–1952 and 1953–1954 sessions, was chosen as Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly when the Democrats held the Assembly majority in the 74th Wisconsin Legislature (1959–1960), was speaker pro tempore for 1965–1966 session, and was Democratic caucus chairman for the 1961–1962, 1963–1964, and 1967–1968 sessions.[7] He was, for several sessions, chairman of the Assembly Rules Committee, and was a member or chairman of the powerful Joint Finance Committee for nearly his entire Assembly career.[7][8]

One of his chief accomplishments in the Wisconsin Legislature was the passage of a series of laws in 1965 which established two new branches of the University of Wisconsin System—University of Wisconsin–Parkside and University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. He had worked for years to establish a University of Wisconsin branch in the Kenosha–Racine area.[9] In recognition for his efforts to establish the branch and for his efforts to support funding for higher education in the state, UW–Parkside made him an honorary alumnus, and University of Wisconsin awarded him an honorary doctorate.[9]

Later years

In 1961, while serving in the Legislature, Molinaro became involved in the founding of American State Bank in Kenosha.[1] He served as the first president of the bank and was then chairman of the bank until his death in 1978.[9]

Personal life and legacy

Molinaro was a first generation Italian American. His parents, Raffaele (Ralph) and Teresa Molinaro (née Marano), had immigrated to the United States from the province of Cosenza in the Kingdom of Italy. He had nine brothers and sisters, including television actor Al Molinaro and Kenosha County district attorney Joseph Molinaro.[10]

George Molinaro married Madeleine R. Jensen on March 2, 1946, at Kenosha's Holy Rosary Catholic Church.[11]

Molinaro was a frequent smoker and was rarely seen without a cigar or cigarette. He died at age 76 at University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, after suffering from cancer and emphysema for several months.[12]

After his death, University of Wisconsin–Parkside named a major building complex George Molinaro Hall in his honor.[9]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly, Kenosha 2nd district (1946–1952)

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
1946 Primary[4] August 13 George Molinaro Democratic 1,392 53.39% Matt G. Siebert (inc.) Dem. 1,215 46.61% 2,607 177
General[5] November 5 George Molinaro Democratic 6,022 46.05% George E. Mahoney Rep. 4,325 33.07% 13,077 1,697
Matt G. Siebert (inc.) Ind. 2,730 20.88%
1948 General[6] November 2 George Molinaro (inc.) Democratic 9,251 56.58% Matt G. Siebert Rep. 7,099 43.42% 16,350 2,152
1950 General[13] November 7 George Molinaro (inc.) Democratic 8,757 58.28% Lawrence Carpenter Rep. 6,270 41.72% 15,027 2,487
1952 General[14] November 4 George Molinaro (inc.) Democratic 11,891 57.95% Lawrence Jacobs Rep. 8,629 42.05% 20,520 3,262

Wisconsin Assembly, Kenosha 1st district (1954–1970)

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
1954 Primary[15] September 14 George Molinaro Democratic 5,649 83.88% Albin H. Zalubowski Dem. 1,086 16.12% 6,735 4,563
General[16] November 2 George Molinaro (inc.) Democratic 10,369 100.0% 10,369 10,369
1956 General[17] November 6 George Molinaro (inc.) Democratic 11,855 72.32% Alvin E. Johnson Rep. 4,537 27.68% 16,392 7,318
1958 Primary[18] September 9 George Molinaro (inc.) Democratic 5,215 63.85% Joseph Lourigan Dem. 2,952 36.15% 8,167 2,263
General[18] November 4 George Molinaro (inc.) Democratic 10,659 100.0% 10,659 10,659
1960 General[19] November 8 George Molinaro (inc.) Democratic 13,686 100.0% 13,686 13,686
1962 Primary[20] September 11 George Molinaro (inc.) Democratic 4,411 71.19% Peter R. Marshall Dem. 1,785 28.81% 6,196 2,626
General[20] November 6 George Molinaro (inc.) Democratic 10,328 100.0% 10,328 10,328
1964 General[21] November 3 George Molinaro (inc.) Democratic 17,207 100.0% 17,207 17,207
1966 General[22] November 8 George Molinaro (inc.) Democratic 10,688 70.68% Joseph R. Kautzer Rep. 4,433 29.32% 15,121 6,255
1968 General[23] November 5 George Molinaro (inc.) Democratic 14,723 100.0% 14,723 14,723
1970 General[24] November 3 George Molinaro (inc.) Democratic 12,472 79.54% William L. McCartin Rep. 3,208 20.46% 15,680 9,264

Wisconsin Assembly, 64th district (1972, 1974)

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
1972 Primary[25] September 12 George Molinaro Democratic 3,581 63.63% Dominick J. Salerno Dem. 2,047 36.37% 5,628 1,534
General[25] November 7 George Molinaro Democratic 11,113 74.25% Joseph Rodriguez Rep. 3,855 25.75% 14,968 7,258
1974 Primary[26] September 10 George Molinaro (inc.) Democratic 2,332 67.59% Gerald F. Bellow Dem. 1,118 32.41% 3,450 1,214
General[26] November 5 George Molinaro (inc.) Democratic 7,220 100.0% 7,220 7,220

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Molinaro: a leader, a contributor". Kenosha News. October 2, 1978. p. 15. Retrieved January 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "Recount Confirms Election of Supervisor in Sixth Ward". Racine Journal Times. Kenosha, Wisconsin. April 15, 1937. Retrieved January 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Runge, Pfennig, Rasmussen and Molinaro Win". Kenosha News. August 14, 1946. p. 1. Retrieved January 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 Ohm, Howard F.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1948). "The Primary Election" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1948 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 613. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Ohm, Howard F.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1948). "The General Election" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1948 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 682. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Ohm, Howard F.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1950). "The General Election" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1950 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 760. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Molinaro, George 1902". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  8. ↑ Weatherly Sharp, Nancy; Sharp, James Roger (1997). "Biographical Sketch of George Molinaro". American legislative leaders in the Midwest, 1911-1994. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 178.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "UW-P building named for Molinaro". Kenosha News. October 6, 1978. p. 16. Retrieved January 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Potente, Joe (October 31, 2015). "Al Molinaro, actor from Kenosha, dead at 96". Kenosha News. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  11. ↑ "George Molinaro". Kenosha News. October 2, 1978. Retrieved January 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Legislative leader George Molinaro dies". Wisconsin State Journal. October 1, 1978. Retrieved January 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Ohm, Howard F.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1952). "The General Election" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1952 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 649. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  14. ↑ Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1954). "The General Election" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1954 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 762. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  15. ↑ Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1956). "The Primary Election" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1956 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 712. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  16. ↑ Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1956). "The General Election" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1956 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 752. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  17. ↑ Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1958). "Parties and Elections" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1958 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 777. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  18. 1 2 Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1960). "Wisconsin State Party Platforms and Elections" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1960 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 661, 698. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  19. ↑ Toepel, M. G.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1962). "Elections" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1962 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 867. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  20. 1 2 Theobald, H. Rupert, ed. (1964). "Elections" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1964 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 721, 765. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  21. ↑ Theobald, H. Rupert, ed. (1966). "Elections" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1966 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 756. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  22. ↑ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1968). "Elections" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1968 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 725. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  23. ↑ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1970). "Elections" (PDF). The state of Wisconsin Blue Book, 1970 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 818. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  24. ↑ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1971). "Elections" (PDF). The state of Wisconsin Blue Book, 1971 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 319–320. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  25. 1 2 Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1973). "Elections" (PDF). In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbin, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1973 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 809, 828. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  26. 1 2 Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1975). "Elections" (PDF). In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbin, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1975 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 809, 830. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
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