Dismas Becker

Dismas Becker
Majority Leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office
January 7, 1985 – January 5, 1987
Preceded byGary K. Johnson
Succeeded byThomas A. Hauke
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office
January 7, 1985 – January 3, 1989
Preceded byThomas Seery
Succeeded byGwen Moore
Constituency7th Assembly district
In office
January 3, 1983 – January 7, 1985
Preceded byMichael G. Kirby
Succeeded byThomas Seery
Constituency13th Assembly district
In office
November 7, 1977 – January 3, 1983
Preceded byPeter J. Tropman
Succeeded byJames M. Stewart
Constituency32nd Assembly district
Personal details
BornPaul Vincent Becker
(1936-09-16)September 16, 1936
DiedSeptember 19, 2010(2010-09-19) (aged 74)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
Spouse
E. Fay Anderson
(m. 1975⁠–⁠2010)
Children
  • 1 adopted son
  • 4 stepchildren
Education
ProfessionCatholic priest, nonprofit director, politician

Dismas Becker (born Paul Vincent Becker; September 16, 1936 – September 19, 2010) was an American Democratic politician, civil rights activist, and former Discalced Carmelite friar and Catholic priest from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He represented the near-west side of the city of Milwaukee for 12 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly, from 1977 to 1989, and served as majority leader during the 1985–1986 term. His chief legislative accomplishment was the 1980 expansion of Wisconsin's fair housing laws to prevent discrimination based on sex, race, religion, age, marital status, national origin, or handicap. Before joining the Legislature, he was a social justice activist and was a leader of the protest which occupied the Wisconsin State Capitol in 1969.