Viewing Frank E. Dougherty (1891-1956).

Frank E. Dougherty (1891-1956).

Except for two years in the Army during the First World War, Frank Edward Dougherty practiced law in Fairmont, Minnesota from 1915 until his death on February 6, 1956. He was city attorney for many years and, while an ardent Republican, showed no interest in running for office, until 1938, when he ran "without party designation" to represent Martin and Watonwan Counties in the state Senate. He was elected and re-elected in 1942 and 1946, serving from 1939 to 1951. A year after his death a memorial service for deceased senators was held in the Chamber of the Minnesota Senate. In his eulogy to Frank Dougherty, Senator Chris Erickson recalled:

"He was loved and highly respected in Fairmont and community. He tried his law suits hard. I have tried law suits with him and against him. He always placed the importance and interest of his clients first, and no person ever approached Mr. Dougherty with a cause and was denied his assistance because he had no money with which to pay attorneys' fees. If he had no money but did have a just cause, he would be ably represented by Mr. Dougherty. There was never a cause so large nor a cause so small but that he would undertake to properly represent his client."

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