Senator Edward P. Donohue View All Years

EDWARD P. DONOHUE

MR. PRESIDENT: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Edward P. Donohue, begs leave to submit the following:

Edward P. Donohue was born in Johnson County, Iowa, March 15, 1899. He attended the schools in Iowa City and graduated from high school there. He attended St. Mary’s College in St. Mary’s, Kansas, and graduated from the University of Iowa liberal arts college. In 1924 he received his law degree from the University. He was a member of Phi Delta Phi fraternity.

Mr. Donohue was a World War I veteran serving overseas in the U. S. Navy from 1917 to 1919. In 1924 he formed a law partnership with M. E. Geiser in New Hampton. He continued practice there under the firm name of Donohue, Wilkins and Donohue until his death.

In June of 1924 he was married to Edna Grimm of Clear Lake who survives. They have one son, Richard Donohue, who was a member of his father’s firm and who is in the practice of law at West Union. Three brothers and five grandchildren also survive.

From 1930 to 1934 he served as county attorney in Chickasaw County. He was the county administrator of the Civil Works Administration in 1933 and 1934. In 1940 he was a member of the advisory committee of selective service. He was a member of the Iowa and the American bar associations, serving on the board of governors of the Iowa bar association from 1938 to 1948 and on the Iowa board of bar examiners from 1947 to 1953. He was a member of Rotary, the American Legion, the Elks and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. For many years he was a trustee of the New Hampton volunteer fire department. He was a director of the Security State Bank in New Hampton from the time of its organization in 1937 until his death. In addition to his large general practice, he was legal counsel for three Chickasaw County banks and was the local counsel for several railroads and insurance companies.

Ed Donohue was elected to the Senate in 1934 from the district made up of Chickasaw and Floyd Counties and was reelected in 1938. He served as the Republican floor leader in the 1939 and 1941 sessions of the General Assembly.

Ed loved to argue and never backed away from a scrap. Although he was sometimes controversial, he was always kind a handsome Irishman with intelligence and integrity. Not only was he a popular, forceful leader of his majority, but he also had the respect and admiration of the minority. He was a true Senator in the noblest sense of the word.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Second Session of the Sixty-third General Assembly of the State of Iowa: That, in the passing of Edward P. Donohue on June 22, 1969, the citizens of the state have lost a valued, loyal and honored citizen, and the Senate by this resolution tenders its sincere sympathy to the members of his family and his many dear friends.

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.

ROBERT R. RIGLER, Chairman

FLOYD GILLEY

CHARLENE CONKLIN

Committee

The resolution was unanimously adopted.