Senator Reinhold O. Carlson View All Years

REINHOLD O. CARLSON

Reinhold O. Carlson was born on September 20, 1905, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Oscar and Hannah Carlson. He passed away on July 7, 2006, at the age of 100. He is survived by his son Ronald and wife Sharon of Johnston.

Carlson was the child of Swedish immigrants. His father came to the United States in 1901 and his mother in 1903. Carlson was a life-long resident of Des Moines. He attended Des Moines public schools and graduated from East High School. He attended Drake University and Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, graduating in 1931. He received his master’s degree from the University of Nebraska in 1933. Carlson married Louise Bergren in 1937.

In his early career, Carlson was the general manager of the Hardgrove Company, a farm equipment company. Later he was an executive vice president of the Scandia Savings and Loan Association, where he retired.

Carlson was elected to the Des Moines City Council in 1958. He served as mayor of Des Moines from 1960–1962. As mayor, Carlson urged residents to unify and work together. He brought attention to the issues of urban renewal and housing. He helped create Des Moines’ low-rent housing agency. Carlson set up a special committee to look at how to provide low-rent housing, and his efforts helped to give that issue visibility. An agency was created and began its work in 1965.

Carlson was active in many other civic committees and organizations. He was a Des Moines Water Works board member in the late 1960s. He served on the Des Moines school board and the Des Moines library board. He had extensive involvement with Lutheran charitable organizations. He was chairman of the Iowa Lutheran Hospital Board and was co-founder of Luther Park, a housing facility for the elderly. He was a life-long member of Capitol Hill Lutheran Church.

Carlson was a Polk County Republican. He was elected to the Iowa Senate during the November 3, 1970, general election. He served during 1971 and 1972 during the 64th General Assembly.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable Reinhold O. Carlson, 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.

JACK HATCH

LARRY NOBLE

BRAD ZAUN

Committee