Dismas Becker, a community organizer and Wisconsin state legislator, is a native of Milwaukee, and was born there on 16 September 1936. Becker's educational background is extensive; he graduated from St. Francis Seminary, received a B.A. in philosophy from Carmelite Seminary in 1960, an M.A. in religious education from Catholic University in 1964, and an M.A. in sociology from Marquette University in 1968. He also taught at Marquette University in 1966 and 1967. Becker was ordained as a priest in the Carmelite order in 1964.
Following his ordination, Father Becker was active in a number of community and welfare rights groups in Milwaukee. The Council on Urban Life, established by the Milwaukee archdiocese in 1966, employed him as a research and program director. Among his other positions were president, Milwaukee Associates in Urban Ministries; acting director, Friends of Welfare Rights; advisor, Milwaukee County Welfare Rights Organization; and coordinator, Youth Opportunity Board (1967-1968). Becker was a member of the Citizens' Relocation Advisory Board, the Greater Milwaukee Conference on Religion and Urban Affairs, and the Midtown Neighborhood Association.
With Father James Groppi, Becker participated in welfare rights and open housing activities, and publicly defended Groppi's efforts to organize demonstrations in support of these issues. Becker was himself beaten by police while occupying the chambers of the State Assembly in Madison on 3 October 1969, during a protest of welfare funding cutbacks.
Late in 1973, after leaving his position with the Council on Urban Life, Becker became a researcher in Detroit for a project conducted by Wayne County Community College, providing technical skills to ethnic communities. At some time after that he left the priesthood, and in an October 1977 special election, won a seat in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 32nd Assembly District until 1988. He was assigned to legislative committees working in the areas of criminal justice, tax exemptions, and education.
