Representative Lee W. Elwood View All Years

LEE W. ELWOOD

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable Lee W. Elwood, begs leave to submit the following resolution:

Lee W. Elwood was born on a farm in Howard county, Iowa, on December 27, 1888, and passed away at Cresco, Iowa, on December 28, 1951, at the age of 63 years. He was the son of Frank D. and Katherine Harris Elwood. He was graduated from the Elma public school in 1906 and the University of Iowa law school in 1909, with a Bachelor of Law degree.

Mr. Elwood was regarded as one of Iowa’s foremost attorneys, and at the time of his death was a member of the Board of Governors of the Iowa State Bar Association. He was always vitally interested in community, state and national affairs and politics and served in numerous civic capacities, including active membership on the World War II Appeal Board. He was a member of the Congregational Church, Masonic Lodge, Shriners, Woodmen and the Elks. He was always an exponent of the “hard fight,” coupled with fair play, in any project, activity or lawsuit he ever undertook or cause he ever championed.

Mr. Elwood was elected on the Republican ticket to the State Legislature as a Representative from Howard county in 1912 and served in that capacity for three successive terms. He was one of the youngest members ever to serve in the Iowa Lgislature. During his service in that capacity he was co-author of the Elwood-Mackey bill which created the present Iowa Highway Commission. He was one of the sponsors of the bill which was instrumental in affecting a physical connection between telephone and telegraph companies operating within the state.

On June 27, 1917, he was united in marriage with Alice Church in Elma, Iowa. He operated a real estate business in Elma with his father and two brothers and engaged in the practice of law in Elma until 1926. In April, 1926, he and his brother, Dale Elwood, began a law partnership in Cresco, Iowa. Later this partnership was joined by Gerald E. Lyons and became known as Elwood, Lyons and Elwood.

His untimely death is mourned by his wife and three children, Fred C. Elwood of Cresco, Iowa; Josephine Landholt of Elma, Iowa, and Alice Lee Jaeger of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Fifty­fifth General Assembly of Iowa., That in the passing of the Honorable Lee W. Elwood, the state has 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 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.

J. H. BROCKMEYER,

A. W. MCFARLANE,

H. H. SERSLAND,

Committee.