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Permanent LinkSenator William J. Greene View All Years
WILLIAM J. GREENE
MR. PRESIDENT: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable William J. Greene, begs leave to submit the following memorial:
William J. Greene was born January 29, 1876 in Clinton, Iowa and was the son of John and Jane White Greene. He died August 22, 1965 in Des Moines.
He was married to Emma McDivitt in Havana, Cuba. She died in 1952 and after her death Mr. Greene made his home in Des Moines.
Mr. Greene began his public services as a fifth ward councilman in Clinton prior to 1910. While serving on the council he was elected a state representative. He had served six terms as a councilman.
While serving in the Iowa House in 1910, Mr. Greene participated in the last joint legislative session in which a United States Senator was chosen. He served two terms.
In 1914, Mr. Greene was pitted against J. H. Ingwersen, president of the Peoples Trust & Savings Bank, for the Democratic nomination for state senator. He beat Ingwersen and then went on to victory in the general election by defeating Republican C. L. Root. He served one term, then for a few years was outside the active political scene.
In 1928 Mr. Greene was elected mayor of Clinton and served three terms ending his political career in 1940.
A small, blue-eyed, smiling Irishman, Mr. Greene was a master political campaigner of the old school, and rose from humble beginnings. He was cited as an example of success for a handicapped person as he had lost a hand in a railroad accident as a young man. He was educated in the public and parochial schools of Clinton.
His surviving relatives are Judge Ray Harrison, a nephew and Mrs Marie Harrison Woods, a niece, both of Des Moines.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE SIXTY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable William J. Greene, the State of Iowa has lost a valued and honored citizen, and by this resolution attests its respect for and admiration of him and tenders its sincere sympathy to his nephew and niece.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the Senate and the Secretary of the Senate be directed to send an enrolled copy to Judge Ray Harrison, his nephew and Mrs. Marie Harrison Woods, a niece, both of Des Moines.
ROGER J. SHAFF, Chairman
JOSEPH W. CASSIDY,
ROGER W. JEPSEN,
Committee.
The resolution was unanimously adopted.