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Permanent LinkSenator William J. Goodwin View All Years
WILLIAM J. GOODWIN
MR. PRESIDENT: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late William J. Goodwin, begs leave to submit the following:
William J. Goodwin was born on a farm south of Beaver, in Boone County, Iowa, on January 15, 1878, son of Robert and Margaret Goodwin.
In 1901 William Goodwin and Grace Kingman were married. Mrs. Goodwin died in 1948.
W. J. Goodwin acquired the Redfield Brick and Tile Company in 1909, the first of his many clay products plants.
He was elected to serve as a trustee of Drake University in 1912 and attained a life membership in 1956. He was chairman of the Drake board from 1928 to 1930.
As State Senator from Polk County, Mr. Goodwin served from 1923 to 1927 in the Iowa Legislature during the Fortieth, Fortieth Extraordinary and Forty-first sessions.
It was in 1934 that Mr. Goodwin was elected Chairman of the Board of Central National Bank and Trust Company. He was a director of both Des Moines National Bank and Iowa-Des Moines National Bank and Trust Company.
He was rumored as a Republican candidate for Iowa governor in 1936 and also for Sixth District congressman. He firmly declined all overtures to be a candidate for United States Senator from Iowa.
He was midwestern leader of the National Republican Program Committee in 1940. The farm plan he suggested was adopted by the committee. Former President Herbert Hoover, former New York Governor Thomas A. Dewey and Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., were on the committee.
During the 1940’s and 1950’s other clay products plants were acquired in several Iowa cities. In 1955 Mr. Goodwin’s two sons purchased his interests in what are operated now as the Goodwin Companies.
Mr. Goodwin became a director and treasurer of the Town Mutual Dwelling Insurance Company in 1944. He was named a director in both Town Mutual and Allied Mutual Insurance Companies when the companies consolidated.
He formerly was a trustee of Plymouth Congregational Church. In recent years he became a member of St. Andrew’s Church. He was one of the original trustees of the fund that created Smouse Opportunity School.
Mr. Goodwin was a member of the Des Moines Rotary Club, Des Moines Club, Pioneer Club, Greater Des Moines Committee, Iowa Manufacturers Association and the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce. He was a thirty-second degree Mason, belonging to all Scottish Rite bodies and Za-Ga-Zig Shrine. He also was a member of Modern Woodmen of the World.
William J. Goodwin died in his sleep at his home December 19, 1963, in Des Moines, Iowa, and is survived by his sons, William J., and Robert K., and a daughter, Jane, now Mrs. W. J. Brandenburg, Jr.
Therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-first General Assembly of Iowa: That in the passing of William J. Goodwin, the state has lost a valuable, loyal and honored citizen, and by this resolution tenders its sincere sympathy to the members of the family.
Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be spread on the Journal of the Senate and that the Secretary of the Senate be instructed to forward an enrolled copy to each member of his family.
GEORGE E. O’MALLEY, Chairman,
WILLIAM F. DENMAN,
C. JOSEPH COLEMAN,
Committee.
The resolution was unanimously adopted.