Senator Leigh Raymond Curran View All Years

LEIGH R. CURRAN

Leigh R. Curran was born on May 28, 1906, in Cambridge, Illinois, to John L. and Almeda Nordstrom Curran. He passed away on January 8, 2004, at the age of 97. He is survived by his wife Dorothy of Mason City; three daughters, Kaye McDonald of Moraga, California, Jane Burley of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and Gail Curran of Alexandria, Virginia; granddaughter Michelle Smith and husband, A.J., of Alabaster, Alabama; grandson Curtis McDonald and wife, Mary, of Pleasant Hill, California; and five great-grandchildren.

The Curran family moved to Mason City in 1911. Leigh Curran attended the Mason City public schools, Hamilton’s Business College, and Iowa State University. In 1937, he married Dorothy Foster at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.

Curran farmed southeast of Mason City for many years. He owned and operated the Curran Stock Farm and was a longtime producer of purebred Polled Hereford cattle. He served as secretary-treasurer and sale manager of the Iowa Polled Hereford Association and was a director of the National Polled Hereford Association. He served as vice-president of the Iowa Beef Producers. Curran was named a Master Farmer in 1947 and the Iowa Cattleman of the Year in 1970.

Curran was active in his community. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Chamber of Commerce, Mason City Foundation Board, YMCA, Rotary Club, Farm Bureau, Masonic Lodge, El Kahir Shrine, and Iowa Consistory. He was on the First National Bank of Mason City board of directors and served as president of the North Iowa Production Credit Association. He served on the North Iowa Medical Center board of directors and was a county Red Cross chairperson. He was one of the original 4-H youth leaders for Cerro Gordo County and was on the North Iowa Fair Board for 66 years.

Curran was a Cerro Gordo County Republican. He served in the Iowa Senate in 1961 and 1963 during the 59th and 60th General Assemblies. He was in the Iowa House in 1967 and 1968, representing Cerro Gordo County during the 62nd General Assembly. He was re-elected to the Iowa Senate in 1968 an d served for four years from 1969 until 1972 during the 63rd and 64th General Assemblies.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable Leigh R. Curran, 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.

E. THURMAN GASKILL

STEWART E. IVERSON, JR.

AMANDA RAGAN

Committee