Representative William G. Kerr View All Years

WILLIAM G. KERR

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable William G. Kerr begs leave to submit the following memorial:

William F. Kerr was born in Grundy county, September 2, 1871, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Kerr. He passed away at a convalescent home in Traer, Iowa, November 1, 1958, at the age of eighty-seven years.

Mr. Kerr graduated from the Grundy Center high school in 1891. After completing his course in the high school he attended Coe College at Cedar Rapids and Cornell College at Mount Vernon. He completed his college work at the State University of Iowa and completed his course in law at the University. He was admitted to the bar in 1896. He engaged in the practice of law for a short time with his father, and later devoted his time to his real estate investments. He also assisted his father in the management of his property.

Mr. Kerr was elected to represent Grundy county in the Iowa Legislature in 1898. He was one of the youngest of the Iowa House members at the time. He served in the legislature two terms. He introduced in the legislature a bill providing for a Corrupt Practice Act, as a safeguard against corruption in elections. It was one of the first corrupt practice act bills adopted in the United States.

Mr. Kerr was a life member of the State Historical Society. He was active as one of the County’s 4 minute men. He was a member of the Grundy Center First Presbyterian Church and served a number of years as an active elder in that church.

In 1895 William G. Kerr married Grace S. Sprague and they made their home in Grundy Center during all of their married life. The wife died in 1942.

The couple were the parents of three sons, and all of them are still living.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Fifty-eighth General Assembly of Iowa: That in the passing of the Honorable William G. Kerr, the people of Grundy county and the entire State of Iowa have lost an honored citizen and a faithful, useful public servant, and the House, by this resolution, would express its appreciation of his service, and tender its sincere and heartfelt sympathy to the members of his family.

Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

HAROLD O. FISCHER,

PAUL M. WALTERS,

CHARLES E. GRASSLEY,

Committee.