Paul Alfonsi: Difference between revisions

Born in [[Pence, Wisconsin]], Alfonsi graduated from the [[University of Wisconsin&ndash;Whitewater]], and then taught school. Alfonsi served in the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]] from 1933 to 1939 and again from 1959 to 1969, and he was speaker of the Assembly in 1937. Alfonsi ran unsuccessfully in an attempt to gain the Progressive Party nomination for governor in 1940, but was defeated by [[Orland Loomis]]. In 1942 he switched parties and ran, again unsuccessfully, in the Republican primary against [[Alvin O'Konski]]. Following this defeat, he enlisted in the United States Army during World War Two. Upon being discharged, he returned to teaching and became the principal of Minocqua High School. Alfonsi returned to the state assembly, this time as a Republican, in 1958, and went on to serve as the assembly majority and minority leader.<ref>[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=2912&keyword=alfonsi Wisconsin Historical Society-Paul Alfonsi]</ref> In 1967, Alfonsi was convicted of bribery. However, the [[Wisconsin Supreme Court]] overturned the conviction. Then Alfonsi was retried, but was acquitted.<ref>{{cite news|title=Alfonsi's Acquittal Won't Be Appealed|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22178030/paul_alfonsi_19081989/|newspaper=The Post-Crescent|date=July 29, 1968|page=1|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = July 25, 2018}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>[http://www.legis.state.wi.us/LRB/pubs/im/09im2.pdf Wisconsin State Legislature members]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Alfonsi died in [[Madison, Wisconsin]] on November 22, 1989.<ref name="Obit">{{cite news|title=Ex-Speaker of Assembly in Wisconsin|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22145200/paul_alfonsi_19081989/|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=November 24, 1989|page=67|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = July 24, 2018}} {{Open access}}</ref>