Senator John Kalbach Valentine View All Years

JOHN K. VALENTINE

MR. PRESIDENT: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable memorial commemorating the life, character, and public service of the late Honorable John K. Valentine, of Centerville, Iowa, begs leave to submit the following:

John K. Valentine, lawyer, legislator, and soldier, was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa, February 5, 1904, the son of Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Valentine, and departed this life October 12, 1950. From the period of a few days of age until his passing, Senator Valentine was a resident of the city of Centerville, except for the periods in which his political service took him to Des Moines, and the time he spent in the armed services of his country. He graduated from the Centerville High School in 1922, being an outstanding athlete. In 1926, he graduated from the Liberal Art School at the University of Wisconsin, and in 1929, he received his law degree at the University of Iowa. In 1929, he entered his father’s law firm in Centerville, and continued as a member of that firm until his death.

He was elected State Senator from the Appanoose-Davis County district in 1933. During his tenure in the Senate, his abilities came to the fore and his hand played an important part in drafting and guiding into legislation many of the important laws that are now on the statute books.

He was only 29 years of age when elected to the Senate on the Democratic ticket. In the depression-ridden session of 1933-1934, and 1935, Senator Valentine climbed the ladder to political success. He became the leader of his Party in the Senate. Such laws as the state sales tax, income and corporation tax, and the bank moratorium Act were skillfully guided by his hands.

He held membership on the legislative interim committee which sought large scale reorganization of the state government in the 1935 session.

The administration looked upon Senator Valentine as one of the most able party members, and handed large responsibilities to him. The Governor appointed Senator Valentine to the Iowa State Tax Commission in 1935. He resigned in September of 1936 to run for Lieutenant Governor, and he presided with great skill and harmony over the State Senate during his term as Lieutenant Governor. His ability to win friends and influence people played an important role. He was a candidate for reelection in 1938, and was defeated.

He was appointed United States District Attorney in 1939 by President Roosevelt, and served in that capacity with his usual capability.

At the urgent demand of his many friends, and contrary to his own wishes, he became a candidate for Governor in 1940, but he was defeated.

Senator Valentine was connected with the Iowa Southern Utilities Company since 1935, and was elected General Counsel on April 21, 1941. On March 17, 1942, he was elected as a director.

At this time he responded to his country’s call and volunteered in the armed forces, and was called to duty as a Lieutenant J.G., October 31, 1942. He served with the armed guard as gunnery officer, traveling in many parts of the world. In 1944 he was appointed as liaison officer for the Navy, attached to the Iowa Selective Service office at Des Moines. He served there until Septmber of 1945.

He was proud of his service record and liked to recall his days in uniform. When he left the service he was a full Lieutenant and subsequently appointed to Lieutenant Commander. On returning from the service he renewed his connections with the Iowa Southern Utilities Company. At the time of his death he was vice president, general counsel, and director of the company, having been elected vice-president in 1948.

His devotion to his work at the Iowa Southern Utilities was in keeping with his usual way. He gave it all the energy and devotion he could muster, although he was ill during the last four years of his life.

He was a director and an advisor of the Iowa Trust and Savings Bank of Centerville, a one time member of the state advisory committee on rules and procedure of the Supreme Court of Iowa, a one time civilian aid to the Secretary of War for the State of Iowa.

He was a member of the Association of Commerce, member of the Elks, Eagles, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Lions, and Rotary. At one time he was president of the Centerville Country Club.

The work which he did for his community was invaluable. He could always be counted upon to do a good and effective job. One so vigorous and so active, it was little wonder he suffered a violent heart attack at the age of 42. In October of 1948, while working at his law office one evening, he was seized with a heart attack. He was a full year recovering, and several times subsequent to his recovery had been in and out of the hospital. However, he seemed to be his same zestful self when he was taken with another heart attack on September 14, 1950, while working in his Iowa Southern Utilities office. He failed to recover.

He left in death his wife, Billie, whom he married November 30, 1932, a brother, Robert, and a nephew, Dennis.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Fifty-fourth General Assembly: That in the passing of the Honorable John K. Valentine, the state has lost a valuable and honorable citizen, a man who devoted many years of his life to public service and the Senate expresses by this resolution its appreciation of his character and public service and tenders sincere sympathy to the surviving members of his family, and

Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this memorial resolution be spread upon the Journal of the Senate and that the Secretary be instructed to send an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

SHERMAN WEST,

A. E. AUGUSTINE,

FRANK C. BYERS,

LEO ELTHON,

JOHN P. BERG,

Committee.

The resolution was unanimously adopted.