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Permanent LinkSenator Donald Alexander Risk View All Years
DON A. RISK
MR. PRESIDENT: Don A. Risk was born January 22, 1896, in Fayette County. He passed away June 6, 1985, in Independence, Iowa, at the age of 89.
Mr. Risk graduated from Aurora High School and attended Upper Iowa University. He served in the Navy in World War I. He and Lydia Biedermann of Guttenberg were married in 1926 and moved to Independence. They had two sons, Donald, of Phoenix, Arizona, and Malcolm, of Independence. He and his second wife Ruth have a stepdaughter, Patricia Rand, of Balboa, Panama.
Senator Risk served in the Senate for four terms, in the 53rd (1949-1950), 54th (1951-1952), 55th (1953-1954) and the 56th (1955-1956) General Assemblies. Before being elected to the Senate, Mr. Risk was Buchanan County Treasurer for five years and mayor of Independence for six years. He played semi-professional baseball for 25 years.
After leaving the Senate, Mr. Risk continued his business interests in real estate and insurance and also owned and operated the Rush Park Motel in Independence. He was treasurer of the Independence Savings and Loan Association for 26 years, a member of the Lions Club and the Sheehan Tidball American Legion Post #30.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE SEVENTY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable Don A. Risk, the State has lost an honored citizen and a faithful and useful public servant, and that the Senate, by this resolution, expresses its appreciation of his service to his community, state and nation and tenders its sympathy and kindest regards to members of his family.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the Senate and that the Secretary of the Senate be instructed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.
LARRY MURPHY, Chair
HURLEY HALL
DALE TIEDEN
Committee