Senator Ralph Farnham McCartney View All Years

Ralph F. McCartney

Ralph F. McCartney was born on December 11, 1924, in Charles City, Iowa, to Ralph C. and Helen Farnham McCartney. He passed away on March 10, 2007, at the age of 82. He is survived by his wife, Rhoda; two sons, Ralph and his wife, Lise, of Washington, D.C., and David and his partner, James Petersen, of Iowa City; one daughter, Julia Deutchman and her husband, Leonard, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and one granddaughter, Sarah Deutchman of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

McCartney graduated from Charles City High School in 1942. From 1943 to 1945, during World War II, he served in the United States Army’s 89th Division. He attended Iowa State University and Cornell University. He received his law degree from the University of Michigan in 1950.

McCartney married Rhoda Mae Huxsol on June 25, 1950, in Charles City, Iowa. For two years, he was a member of the Heuber and Miller law firm in Des Moines. In 1952, he and Rhoda returned to Charles City where he cofounded the Frye and McCartney law firm, a position he held for 26 years.

McCartney was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 1966. He served two terms in the House and was Majority Leader during his second term. He was a member of the Iowa Senate during 1973 and 1974. In December 1978, he was appointed a district court judge. He was named a chief judge for the Second Judicial District in 1987 and senior judge of the State Court of Appeals in 1992.

McCartney was a member of the Iowa Judges Association; the Twelfth Judicial District Bar, Iowa State Bar, and American Bar Associations; and the American Judicature Society. In 1995, he received the prestigious Award of Merit from the Iowa Judges Association.

McCartney served on the State Board of Regents from 1970–1972. He was a member of many community organizations including the Masonic Lodge #141 and Consistory, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Lions Club, Floyd County Historical Society, Charles City Art Association, and the First Congregational Church. He served on the board of directors for the Lincoln Club, United Fund, Salvation Army, and Charles City YMCA.

McCartney was a Floyd County Republican. He served in the Iowa Legislature during the 62nd, 63rd, and 65th General Assemblies.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable Ralph F. McCartney, 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.

MERLIN BARTZ

DAVID JOHNSON

AMANDA RAGAN

Committee