Representative Robert K. Beck View All Years

ROBERT K. BECK

Mr. Speaker: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character, and public service of the late Honorable Robert K. Beck begs to submit the following Memorial:

Robert K. Beck was born July 17, 1915 the son of Jesse McFall and Edna Needham Beck. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1937 from Iowa Wesleyan College. He married Charlotte Allen in 1939.

In 1942, he entered the U.S. Naval Reserve, serving 28 months aboard the U.S.S. South Dakota in the Atlantic, Pacific theater, participating in nine major sea engagements. He was discharged in 1945 as Lieutenant.

After the war, Mr. Beck returned home and became general manager of the Iowegian, a family owned paper where he had worked as a teenager. Under his guidance, the Iowegian earned three Iowa General Excellence Awards, the Iowa Community Service Award in 1963 and 1983, as well as numerous state wide awards for both news, advertising, editorial excellence and industrial support. Mr. Beck was named an Iowa Master Editor-Publisher in 1963, was president of the Iowa Newspaper Association in 1969-1970, and earned the Bent Cane Award from the Des Moines Press Club in 1959. Although the Iowegian was sold in 1983, Beck continued to write a weekly column until weeks before his death.

Mr. Beck served as owner-officer of the Oceanside (California) Daily Blade-Tribune, the Glendora (California) Press, the Azusa (California) Herald and the Corydon Times-Republican. He was founder and president of KCOG Radio from 1949-1954 and chairman of the board of Centerville National Bank. He was a member and chaired the Iowa Highway Commission from 1955-59, served on the Iowa Development Commission from 1969-1977, and served on the Iowa Wesleyan College Board of Trustees from 1961-1980.

He launched unsuccessful gubernatorial campaigns in 1966 and 1968 but remained a vital and important cog in the state’s political process for decades. He was a past president of the Centerville Lions Club, the Chamber of Commerce, chaired the Industrial Committee, was president of the St. Joseph Hospital lay advisory board, chaired the Community Chest fund drive, was a pioneer member and president of the Rathbun Lake Association, member of the Chariton Valley Improvement Association board, president of the Appanoose Country Club, superintendent of the Methodist Church Sunday School and served on numerous other committees and activities. In 2002, Governor Vilsack presented Beck with a special plaque from the Friends of Rathbun Lake for his decades of dedication to development of the lake and its impact on Appanoose, Wayne, Monroe, and Lucas counties.

A Republican, Mr. Beck was a member of the Fifty-fifth General Assembly.

Robert K. Beck died on January 13, 2004 at the age of 88. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte Allen Beck of Centerville; a son, Tom Beck (Deloris) of Centerville; two daughters, Barbara Beck Climie of Centerville, and Martha Beck Hoch (Dr. Douglas Hoch) of Chariton; seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Now Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Eightieth General Assembly of Iowa, That in the passing of the Honorable Robert K. Beck, 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.

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.

RICHARD ARNOLD

KURT SWAIM

MARY GASKILL

Committee