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Permanent LinkRepresentative Melville M. Graham View All Years
MEL M. GRAHAM
MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character, and public service of the late Honorable Mel M. Graham, begs leave to submit the following memorial:
Mel M. Graham was born March 22, 1906, in Primghar, Iowa. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Graham. He graduated from Audubon High School, attended the University of Iowa and received his law degree from Drake University in 1930.
He was married to Naomi Hensley in 1939. To this union two sons, Tony and Ben, were born.
Mr. Graham was a member of the United Methodist Church. He was admitted to the bar in 1930 and joined his father in the practice of law in Audubon. He enlisted in the Army and served in the South Pacific as a master sergeant in World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star for heroism.
He was former county attorney, a member of the library board, Odd Fellows Lodge, Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts, Veterans of Foreign Wars and was past commander of the Audubon Legion Post. In 1946, the Audubon Chamber of Commerce named him the community’s “Man of the Year.”
Mr. Graham, a Democrat, served as State Representative from Audubon County in the Fifty-second and Fifty-third sessions of the General Assembly of Iowa. In 1949, he resigned to accept an appointment by Governor Beardsley to the Highway Commission, which he served for eight years.
Mr. Graham passed away June 27, 1969. Surviving are his widow, Naomi, of Audubon; one son, Ben, of Audubon, and a sister, Mrs. Milton Krasne of Omaha. He was preceded in death by one son, Tony.
Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Sixty-third General Assembly of Iowa: That in the passing of the Honorable Mel M. Graham the state has lost an honored citizen and a faithful and useful public servant, and the House by this resolution would express its appreciation of his service and tender its sympathy to the members of his family.
Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.
HARVEY W. JOHNSON
LESTER L. KLUEVER
ALFRED NIELSEN
Committee