Henry Kalis

Henry J. Kalis
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 30A, 29B, 26B district
In office January 7, 1975 – January 6, 2003
Preceded by	Dale Erdahl
Succeeded by	Tony Cornish
Personal details
Born	March 2, 1937 Walters, Minnesota
Political party	Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Spouse(s)	Violet
Children	4
Residence	Walters, Minnesota
Occupation	farmer, legislator, veteran
Religion	Catholic

Henry J. Kalis (born March 2, 1937) was a Minnesota politician and is a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from southern Minnesota. First elected in 1974, Kalis was re-elected every two years until he opted not to seek re-election in 2002. A Democrat, he represented the old Districts 30A and 29B and, later, 26B, which included all or portions of Blue Earth, Faribault, Freeborn, Martin and Waseca counties, changing somewhat through redistricting in 1980 and 1990. He was, along with senators Dennis Frederickson, Earl Renneke and Jim Vickerman, and representatives Gilbert Esau and Wendell Erickson, one of the longest-serving legislators from southern Minnesota in the state's history.

From the town of Walters, Kalis was a farmer by profession. He served in the United States Army and in the Minnesota National Guard (Company A, 147th Division) before becoming active locally as a town treasurer and a township board member. He later served as a commissioner on the Faribault County Board before opting to run for the Minnesota House in 1974.

While in the legislature, Kalis earned a reputation as a conservative Democrat, and was a champion for farmers and agricultural issues, and for transportation issues. He served on the House Agriculture, Appropriations, Capital Investment, Economic Development, Education, Environment & Natural Resources, Financial Institutions & Insurance, Health & Human Services, Judiciary, Local & Urban Affairs, Regulated Industries, Transportation, and Ways & Means committees, and on various other committee incarnations and subcommittees.

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