Frank J. Warnke (May 18, 1933 September 23, 2011) was an American politician of who served in both chambers of the

Washington State Legislature The Washington State Legislature is the state legislature of the State of Washington. It is a bicameral body, composed of the lower Washington House of Representatives, composed of 98 representatives, and the upper Washington State Senate, w ...

Early life and education

A Native American, Warnke was born in

Harlem, Montana Harlem is a city in Blaine County, Montana, Blaine County, Montana, United States. The population was 769 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Fort Belknap Indian Reservation is just south of the town, across the Milk River (Alber ...

and raised in

Auburn, Washington Auburn is a city in King County, Washington, King County, Washington (state), Washington, United States (with a small portion crossing into neighboring Pierce County, Washington, Pierce County). The population was 87,256 at the 2020 United States ...

. After graduating from Auburn High School, he studied political science at

Central Washington University Central Washington University (CWU) is a public university in Ellensburg, Washington, United States. Founded in 1891, the university consists of four divisions: the President's Division, Business and Financial Affairs, Operations, and Academi ...

and the

University of Washington The University of Washington (UW and informally U-Dub or U Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington, United States. Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast of the Uni ...

. He later served in the

United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and Admiralty law, law enforcement military branch, service branch of the armed forces of the United States. It is one of the country's eight Uniformed services ...

and was stationed in

Ketchikan, Alaska Ketchikan ( ; ) is a city in and the borough seat of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough on Revillagigedo Island of Alaska. It is the state's southeasternmost major settlement. Downtown Ketchikan is a National Historic Landmark District. With a p ...

Career

After leaving the

, Warnke worked for

Boeing The Boeing Company, or simply Boeing (), is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides leasing and product support s ...

for 10 years. He was elected to the

Washington House of Representatives The Washington House of Representatives is the lower house of the Washington State Legislature, and along with the Washington State Senate makes up the legislature of the U.S. state of Washington. It is composed of 98 Representatives from 49 ...

in 1964. Warnke served 12 years in the

for

Washington's 30th legislative district Washington's 30th legislative district is one of forty-nine electoral district, districts in Washington (state), Washington state for representation in the Washington State Legislature, state legislature. It is mostly in King County, Washington, ...

and eight years in the

Washington State Senate The Washington State Senate is the upper house of the Washington State Legislature. The body consists of 49 members, each representing a district with a population of nearly 160,000. The State Senate meets at the Washington State Capitol, Legis ...

for

Washington's 31st legislative district Washington's 31st legislative district is one of forty-nine electoral district, districts in Washington (state), Washington for representation in the Washington State Legislature, state legislature. This district covers parts of southeastern King ...

. Warnke helped create the Public School Employees of Washington (PSE), a union for

school district A school district is a special-purpose district that operates local public Primary school, primary or Secondary school, secondary schools or both in various countries. It is not to be confused with an attendance zone, which is within a school dis ...

employees Employment is a relationship between two parties regulating the provision of paid labour services. Usually based on a contract, one party, the employer, which might be a corporation, a not-for-profit organization, a co-operative, or any othe ...

, and served 17 years as the organization's executive director. Warnke also drafted legislation to create the Auburn Game Farm Park in

Personal life

Warnke and his wife, Beverly, had two children. He died in

in 2011.

References

1933 births 2011 deaths Democratic Party Washington (state) state senators Democratic Party members of the Washington House of Representatives Native American state legislators in Washington (state) People from Blaine County, Montana People from Auburn, Washington 20th-century members of the Washington State Legislature {{Washington-WASenate-stub