HR 8 (LSB 1865YH (4) 86)

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 8

BY  H. MILLER, ABDUL-SAMAD, BERRY, THEDE, KELLEY, LANDON, FISHER, VANDER LINDEN, JORGENSEN, WATTS, HAGENOW, DEYOE, SODERBERG, WORTHAN, MOORE, BYRNES, BALTIMORE, MEYER, MOMMSEN, HOLT, BROWN-POWERS, GAINES, SANDS, HUSEMAN, PETTENGILL, HEDDENS, FINKENAUER, STUTSMAN, WINCKLER, ISENHART, LYKAM, COHOON, DOLECHECK, McCONKEY, ANDERSON, GASSMAN, T. TAYLOR, HUNTER, JACOBY, NUNN, WESSEL-KROESCHELL, HANSON, OLSON, OLDSON, WOLFE, HALL, BEARINGER, KAUFMANN, WINDSCHITL, SEXTON, KLEIN, RUFF, RUNNING-MARQUARDT, STECKMAN, BACON, BAXTER, GUSTAFSON, FORBES, KRESSIG, DAWSON, ROGERS, COWNIE, OURTH, PAUSTIAN, DUNKEL, STAED, KEARNS, GASKILL, PRICHARD, SMITH, LENSING, BENNETT, MASCHER, SALMON, MAXWELL, L. MILLER, FRY, UPMEYER, FORRISTALL, HANUSA, JONES, PAULSEN, DRAKE, KOESTER, STANERSON, BRANHAGEN, RIZER, HEARTSILL, WILLS, GRASSLEY, SHEETS, R. TAYLOR, CARLSON, KOOIKER, HEIN, HEATON, BEST, and HIGHFILL

A Resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of the milestone achieved by the first African Americans to serve in the Iowa General Assembly, the Honorable Willie Stevenson Glanton and the Honorable James H. Jackson.

   WHEREAS, in 1880, the Iowa Constitution was amended to allow African American men to serve in the Iowa General Assembly; and
   WHEREAS, in 1926, the Iowa Constitution was amended to allow women to serve in the Iowa General Assembly; and
   WHEREAS, in 1965, Willie Stevenson Glanton and James H. Jackson became the first African Americans to serve in the Iowa General Assembly as members of the Iowa House of Representatives during the 61st Iowa General Assembly; and
   WHEREAS, 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of this important milestone in the history of Iowa and the Iowa General Assembly; and
   WHEREAS, the House of Representatives should celebrate and inform all Iowans of the history of the Iowa General Assembly and its members, especially members who represent historic firsts and exemplify the ideal of the citizen legislator; and
   WHEREAS, both Willie Stevenson Glanton and James H. Jackson distinguished themselves during the 61st Iowa General Assembly, working on important legislation on civil rights and housing discrimination while serving on several committees, including appropriations and education; and
   WHEREAS, Willie Stevenson Glanton was a trailblazer throughout her career as she was the second African American woman to be admitted to the Iowa Bar, the first African American woman to become an assistant county attorney in Polk County, the first African American attorney in the Iowa office of the United States Small Business Administration, and the first African American member of the Des Moines City Council, all culminating in her induction into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame; and
   WHEREAS, James H. Jackson, a native of Waterloo and graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, distinguished himself throughout his career in both the public and private sectors, teaching in the Waterloo public school district and later becoming a pioneer for other African Americans in corporate America, holding senior management positions with Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company, ITT, Citibank, and CIGNA; NOW THEREFORE,

   BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That the House of Representatives honors and recognizes the important contributions both Willie Stevenson Glanton and James H. Jackson made to this state as the first African American members of the Iowa House of Representatives and as trailblazers and pioneers in both the public and private sectors throughout their careers.