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Permanent LinkSenator Lee Warren Holt View All Years
LEANDER “LEE” WARREN HOLT
Leander Warren Holt, was born August 30, 1909, to Peter and Anna Edward Holt in Earlville, Ill. Lee passed away Wednesday, October 29, 1997, at St. Luke Lutheran Home, Spencer, Iowa at the age of eighty-eight years. His early childhood was spent on a farm near Ottosen, Iowa. Lee graduated from Ottosen High School and later from the American Institute of Business in Des Moines. In 1935, he was employed by the Iowa House of Representatives in the 46th General Assembly.
On June 27, 1937, he married Dorothy VanBurskirk in Ottosen. One son, John and two daughters, Sondra and Barbara comprised their family. They were also blessed with eight grandchildren. Lee was a member of the First English Lutheran Church where he served as an officer for 30 years. He also served six years on the board of the Lutheran Home Finding Society in Fort Dodge, Iowa. In 1950, he was appointed as a director for the Iowa Safety Congress.
He was President and chairman of the Board of Directors of St. Luke Lutheran Home from 1963-1993. During that period, The Highlands was studied and built with Lee and Dorothy as the first residents of the facility. Lee served as honorary board member in the early planning stages for the Assisted Living, Adult Day Care Center now named in his honor. He was president of the Iowa Automobile Dealers in 1968. In 1977 and 1978, he served as chairman of the Board of Fellows of Augustana College in Sioux Falls. In 1978, he received the Northwood Institute award for support of education. He served on an advisory council for Iowa Lakes Community College and also on the state Board of Vocational Education Advisory Council. He served on the Legislative Council for AARP for the state of Iowa. He was a member of the Steering Committee in fundraising for the Spencer Cancer Unit. In 1995, Governor Branstad appointed him to the State Judicial Nominating Commission.
Lee served for a number of years as State Drivers License Examiner and as a member of the Iowa Highway State Patrol. In 1946, he resigned from the Patrol and became associated in the automobile business. In 1964, he purchased the automobile dealership which bore his name, Lee Holt Motors. Time Magazine named him Quality Auto Dealer for Iowa in 1972.
In 1978, Lee was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives and served in the 68th and 69th General Assemblies representing Clay and Palo Alto County. In 1983, he was elected to the Iowa Senate and served in the 70th, 71st, and 72nd General Assemblies. After serving six years in the Senate, he retired from the Legislature.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable Leander Warren Holt the State has lost an honored citizen known to all who dealt with him as a “True Gentleman” and a 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 by instructed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.
JOHN P. KIBBIE, Chair
WILMER RENSINK
MARY LOU FREEMAN
Committee