Robert D. BlueView All Years

ROBERT D. BLUE

Robert D. Blue was born September 24, 1898, at Eagle Grove, Iowa, and was a lifelong resident of that community, except for the four years he lived in Des Moines as governor. He passed away December 14, 1989, at the age of 91 years.

Mr. Blue was the son of Donald and Myrtle E. Blue. He graduated from Eagle Grove High School, attended Iowa State College, C.C.C. College, of Des Moines, and graduated from the College of Law Drake University in 1922. He married Cathlene Beale of Tama and they were the parents of a daughter, Barbara, and a son, Donald, who preceded him in death. During World War I he enlisted in the Student Army Training Corps and was assigned to Iowa State College.

Mr. Blue was engaged in the law practice with the firm of Hobbet, Blue and Blue and was actively engaged in operating a corn-hog farm located near Eagle Grove. He served as county attorney of Wright County from 1924 until 1931 and also served as city attorney in 1932.

He was elected as a state representative in 1934, 1936, 1938, and 1940. He was Republican floor leader in the 47th and 48th General Assemblies, Speaker of the House in the 49th General Assembly, and Lieutenant Governor in the 50th General Assembly. He was elected Governor of the State of Iowa in 1944 and served for four years.

A member of the United Methodist Church, he was named to the Methodist Hall of Fame in Philanthropy; a member of the Consistory, Shrine and other Masonic organizations, and the Moose Fraternal Order; a member of the American Legion, Rotary, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Phi Alpha Delta fraternities.

Governor Blue served on the National Planning Board of the White House Conference on Aging and on the National Advisory Council of the Office of Economic Opportunity. He also served as trustee on the boards of several Methodist retirement homes in the state and was instrumental in promoting the construction of the Rotary Ann Home in Eagle Grove, sponsored by the Rotary Club there.

In 1988, on his 90th birthday, Eagle Grove renamed its middle school Robert Blue School.

He left surviving him his wife, Cathlene, of Eagle Grove; a daughter, Barbara Dittmar, of Des Moines; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE SEVENTY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable Robert D. Blue, the State has lost an honored citizen and a faithful and useful public servant, and that the Senate, by this resolution, expresses its appreciation of his service to his community, state and nation and tenders its sympathy and kindest regards to 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.

RAY TAYLOR, Chair

BERL E. PRIEBE

C. JOSEPH COLEMAN

Committee