Representative William J. Reichardt View All Years

WILLIAM J. “BILL” REICHARDT

William J. “Bill” Reichardt was born on June 24, 1930, to Herbert and Ethel Reichardt. He passed away on June 1, 2004, at the age of 73. He is survived by his wife Sue of Des Moines, Iowa; daughter, Barbara Jensen and her husband Buzz Weisberg of Denver, Colorado, and her three children; son Doug and his wife Debbie of Des Moines, Iowa, and their three children; son Duke and his wife Carole of Clive, Iowa, and their three children; and his sisters Sherry Gardner and Mary Ellen Krebs.

Reichardt attended school in Iowa City and graduated from Iowa City High School in 1948. He grew up working in the family restaurant, Reich’s Restaurant. Reichardt received many sports honors as a high school student. He was inducted into the Iowa City High School Hall of Fame and received eight athletic letters for varsity competition. He was named to the All-State Football First Team as a fullback.

Reichardt attended the University of Iowa and graduated in 1952 with a degree in economics. He played football for the University of Iowa and received numerous football honors, including being named All-American fullback, All Big Ten First Team, and the Most Valuable Player in the Big Ten in 1951. More recently, he was named to the University of Iowa All-Time Football Team and was inducted into the University of Iowa Athletic Hall of Fame.

In 1952, Reichardt was united in marriage to Sue Manbeck, and they were married for 52 years. In 1953, Reichardt and his business partner opened Bill Reichardt’s Sports Shop. He owned his own business, Reichardt’s Clothing Store, in the Roosevelt Shopping Center in Des Moines for 47 years.

Reichardt was active in his community. He wrote and published many articles on the topics of competitive athletics and juvenile crime. He served on boards and committees for a variety of organizations in Des Moines and in Iowa. Reichardt was passionate about children’s issues and worked to improve the lives of disadvantaged youth in Iowa.

Reichardt was a Polk County Democrat. He served one term in the House from 1965–1966 during the 61st General Assembly and one term in the Senate from 1967–1970 during the 62nd and 63rd General Assemblies. He was a candidate for Governor of the state of Iowa in the 1994 primary.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable William J. “Bill” Reichardt, the State has lost an honored citizen and 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.

MATT MCCOY

JACK HATCH

PAT WARD

Committee