Representative Edgar H. Holden View All Years

EDGAR H. HOLDEN

Edgar H. Holden was born on March 24, 1914, in Tama County to Glenn B. and Laura M. (Warner) Holden. He passed away on August 21, 2001, at the age of eighty-seven. He is survived by his wife, Rachel; brothers and sisters-in-law, Charles and Mildred of Davenport, Harvey and Ruth of Washington, Iowa, and Birchard and Mary of Richmond, Virginia; sisters and brothers-in-law, Helen and James Larsen of Minden, Nebraska, Virginia Dunville of Roanoke, Virginia, and Lila and Stewart Shotwell of Richmond, Virginia.

Holden graduated from Davenport High School in 1932 and married Rachel O. Brown on January 1, 1937. After four years with Sturtevant Dairy Co., he went to work for Farm Bureau Service Co. in Mt. Joy as a bookkeeper and was the manager from 1938 to 1949. From 1949 to 1986, Holden and his brothers, Charles and Birchard, owned and operated Propane Gas Co., Holdens Oil Co., Triangle Truckport, and the Edgetowner Restaurant, along with related businesses.

Holden was a 48-year director, president, and chairman of the Central Scott Telephone Co. of Eldridge. He was active in several trade associations and was a director of the Davenport Chamber of Commerce and the Scott County Farm Bureau.

During World War II, Holden served in the European Theater of Operations from the Normandy beaches in France to the Elbe River at Magdeberg, Germany, receiving three battle stars. His unit was with the 9th Army on the North Flank during the “Battle of the Bulge.” He was a 50-year member of the American Legion.

Holden was an active member of his community, serving as an elder on local Presbyterian and Synod bodies and in the Gideons. He served as president of the Scott County Pioneers Descendants Society and as president of the Scott County Historical Society. He was a member of the Iowa State Historical Society, the Putnam Museum, and the Hoover Library and Foundation. A long-time Rotarian, he was a contributor to the Rotary Foundation as a Paul Harris Fellow and as a benefactor.

Edgar Holden was a Scott County republican. He served in the House of Representatives from 1967 to 1974 during the 62nd, 63rd, and 64th General Assemblies. He was elected Majority Leader of the House of Representatives in the 65th General Assembly. On December 13, 1977, Holden was elected to the Senate during a special election. He served in the Senate from 1978 to 1988, during the 2nd half of the 67th General Assembly and through the 68th, 69th, 70th, 71st, and 72nd General Assemblies. After serving as a legislator, he served on the Iowa State Banking Board for eight years and on the 7th Judicial District Court Nominating Commission.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE SEVENTY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable Edgar H. Holden, 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.

MAGGIE TINSMAN

PATRICK J. DELUHERY

SHELDON RITTMER

Committee