Representative Robert R. Dodds View All Years

ROBERT R. DODDS

Robert R. Dodds was born on July 27, 1924, in Burlington, Iowa, and passed away on January 1, 1998, at the age of seventy-three. His parents were Horace Dodds and Florence (Hillgartner) Dodds. He married Frances M. Floyd on March 1, 1965, in Monmouth, Illinois. He is survived by his wife Frances; one son, Jeffrey Dodds of Coralville; four daughters, Luana Lambert of Burlington, Tami Bainter of Hannibal, Mo., Lisa Bartruff of Iowa City and Degee Wilhelm of Chicago; 13 grandchildren; a brother, William of New York; and a sister, Jean Schnupper of Middletown.

Mr. Dodds graduated from the Danville High School and attended Burlington Junior College. He owned and operated Bob Dodds Insurance in Danville. He served on boards of Great River Health Systems, Salvation Army, Burlington Bees Baseball, Danville Bank, American Cancer Society, was president of Jaggar Cemetery, served on boards of the Southeastern Community College Foundation and Danville School. He was in the Burlington Police Department Chaplain Corps. Mr. Dodds served his country in the Air Force during World War II and was a member of the American Legion and Danville Lodge.

Mr. Dodds was a prominent eastern Iowa Democrat, and in 1960 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. He was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 1956 and served from Des Moines County as a member of the Iowa House from 1956 to 1962. In 1962, he was elected to the Iowa Senate and served from 1962 to 1970.

Following his time in public office, Senator Dodds became active in the ministry. He ministered at Bonaparte Baptist Church for over seventeen years and was founder of Mud Creek Chapel Retreat and built the Little White Chapel in the Woods in rural Danville. He founded the Bottom Line Foundation, which published a weekly evangelistic newsletter. Senator Dodds also worked in jail ministries and served as chaplain for the Burlington Bees baseball team. He had been Midwest League Chaplain Coordinator for many years.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable Robert R. Dodds, 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 the State and tenders its sympathy and kindest regards to the 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.

EUGENE FRAISE, Chair

TOM VILSACK

RICHARD F. DRAKE

Committee