Roland Meidinger Papers

Collection

Identifier: OGLMC-1151

Scope and Contents

The Roland Meidinger Papers consist primarily of correspondence dealing with bills and other major issues within the North Dakota Senate, 1953-1961. The amount of correspondence for each bill varies. Additional materials span the years 1952-1986 and include correspondence with Senator Milton Young, newspaper clippings, and information pertaining to various issues, including the sale of the State Mill and Elevator, the Constitutional Convention, and education. There are also materials regarding the Public Lands Commission, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, North Dakota Republican Party Committee, teacher’s retirement, special education, and the taxation of cooperatives.

Dates

created: 1952-1986
Other: Date acquired: 08/11/1987

Creator

Meidinger, Roland (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Biographical or Historical Information

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Roland Meidinger was born April 15, 1913, in Fredonia, North Dakota. Meidinger attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics and Business in 1936. Meidinger worked in the fields of teaching, life insurance, banking, and auto sales before founding the R.E. Meidinger Company of Jamestown, North Dakota, a real estate and insurance business. He served as its president. In 1976, Meidinger received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Jamestown College, where he served as a member of the Board of Trustees, 1956-1980. Meidinger served in the North Dakota Senate for 12 years (1953-1965), where he was the Senate Majority Floor Leader in 1957, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee 1957-1963, Caucus Chairman, 1961 and 1963; and President Pro Tem, 1963. In addition, he was a Republican National Committeeman for North Dakota 1963-1968, and was elected delegate to the North Dakota Constitutional Convention in 1970, where he was appointed Committee Chairman on Education, Natural Resources, and Public Lands. Meidinger served as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for North Dakota from 1972 to 1976 and also was a member of the North Dakota Board of Higher Education, serving as its president. Meidinger was appointed a member of the North Dakota Legislative Council Constitutional Revision Committee 1977-1979. In addition to Meidinger’s political service, he was also a member of assorted organizations including: board member for the Greater North Dakota Association (served as president 1958-1961); organizer of the North Dakota Dairy Show; director of the North Dakota Water Users’ Association, 1966-1970; member of the North Dakota Higher Education Facilities Commission, 1964-1968; organizer of the Upper Midwest Research and Development Council; Director of the Garrison Conservancy District, 1973-1978; Area Chairman, Ducks Unlimited, 1974-1975; Stutsman County Red Cross Board; director of Jamestown Chamber of Commerce; and board member of the Central Dakota Nursing Home. Meidinger’s memberships included the Elks, Masons, Shriners, Jesters, Jamestown Country Club, Rotary (President 1952), formerly a trustee and present member of administrative board of First United Methodist Church, and the Board of Realtors. Meidinger was selected “Man of the Year” by the Jamestown Chamber of Commerce in 1968 and appointed Commodore in the North Dakota Mythical Navy by Governor Link, “For distinguished service in promoting water resource development,” in December of 1980. Roland Meidinger died June 4, 2006, in Jamestown.

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