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Permanent LinkSenator Tom Hancock View All Years
TOM HANCOCK
Thomas Hancock was born on February 3, 1948, in Dubuque, Iowa, to Calvin “Blackie” and Margaret Cooley Hancock. He passed away on January 31, 2016, at the age of 67. He is survived by his wife Coleen and his son Steve.
Hancock received his education in the Western Dubuque public school system. After graduation from high school, he attended Northeast Iowa Community College and also completed paramedic classes at Mercy Health Center in Dubuque. He was united in marriage to Coleen Dardis in Peosta, Iowa, on September 21, 1968.
Hancock was employed by the U.S. Postal Service for 31 years. He was a member of the Epworth Volunteer Fire Department, which he joined in 1968 at the age of 19. He served for 45 years as a paramedic volunteer and was fire chief for 16 of those years. In the 1980s, he led a group of volunteers who would complete paramedic training; their department became one of the first rural volunteer departments in the state to become certified in advanced life support. He also served as the president of the Iowa Firefighters Association and president of the Dubuque County EMS Association. Hancock was an Iowa senator for 8 years. He chaired the Judiciary Committee that was responsible for a $635 million dollar justice budget. After leaving the Senate in 2011, he was elected to the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors.
Hancock was involved with many civic, business, and community activities, including the Epworth Economic Development Board, the Epworth Jaycees, the Local Emergency Planning Committee, the Dubuque County Revolving Loan Fund Committee, and the Homeland Security Advisory Board. He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.
Tom Hancock was a Dubuque County Democrat. He served in the Iowa Senate from 2005–2012, during the 81st, 82nd, 83rd, and 84th General Assemblies.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable Thomas Hancock, 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.
Tod R. Bowman
Jeff Danielson
Dan Zumbach
Committee