Senate Resolution 126 PAG LIN 1 1 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. ___ 1 2 BY KREIMAN, McKINLEY, and JOHNSON 1 3 A Resolution honoring Robert K. Beck for his 1 4 accomplishments in service to the people of Iowa as 1 5 a civic leader, state legislator, and newspaperman. 1 6 WHEREAS, Robert K. Beck was born on July 17, 1915, 1 7 in Centerville and began his newspaper career as a 1 8 teenager working at the Daily Iowegian, and went on to 1 9 become general manager of the newspaper by 1945, and 1 10 owner by 1950; and 1 11 WHEREAS, Mr. Beck lived in southern Iowa nearly all 1 12 his life, graduating from Centerville High School in 1 13 1933 and earning a bachelor's degree from Iowa 1 14 Wesleyan College in 1937; and 1 15 WHEREAS, Mr. Beck's civic service to the state 1 16 began with his term as a member of the Iowa House of 1 17 Representatives from 1953 to 1955; and 1 18 WHEREAS, Mr. Beck twice tried unsuccessfully to 1 19 serve the state as governor, campaigning in 1966, and 1 20 against Robert Ray in 1968; and 1 21 WHEREAS, Mr. Beck's leadership skills served his 1 22 community well as he successfully attracted industrial 1 23 companies to the area when he served as Centerville's 1 24 industrial chairman; and 1 25 WHEREAS, Mr. Beck was a driving force in the 1 26 construction of Rathbun Lake, which offers year=round 1 27 recreational opportunities and drinking water to the 1 28 surrounding area; and 1 29 WHEREAS, Mr. Beck continued to write a weekly 1 30 column about history and life in Centerville until 2 1 well into his eighties; and 2 2 WHEREAS, Mr. Beck is remembered as a tireless, 2 3 irreplaceable member of his community, giving to a 2 4 fault, and constantly involved in the betterment of 2 5 his community; and 2 6 WHEREAS, for over 60 years, Robert and his wife 2 7 Charlotte teamed up to plead, persuade, lead, and 2 8 cajole Centerville people and friends of Centerville 2 9 to believe in themselves and their fine city; NOW 2 10 THEREFORE, 2 11 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the General 2 12 Assembly honors Mr. Robert K. Beck posthumously for 2 13 his many civic and professional achievements and 2 14 contributions to the betterment of this state; and 2 15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the 2 16 Senate shall deliver copies of this Resolution to Mrs. 2 17 Charlotte Beck, Tom Beck, and Barbara Beck Climie, all 2 18 of Centerville; and to Martha Beck Hoch of Chariton. 2 19 LSB 5894XS 80 2 20 kh/gg/14