Dean Duane Benson is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Hamline University. He played professionally in nfl American Football League for the Oakland Raiders and in the National Football League for the Raiders, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Houston Oilers. Benson is a charter member of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, created in 2012 to oversee construction of the state's new professional football stadium. He was the executive director of the Minnesota Business Partnership from 1994 to 2003. Benson served in the Minnesota Senate from 1980 to 1994 and was the Senate Minority Leader for a period during that time. 

August 5th, 1945 in   /  Died:   Jan 26th, 2019 - cancer - age 73