Bob Ray, beloved 5-term Iowa governor, dies at 89

[TBoneTX 45,522]

If you weren't familiar with someone who was the type of politician/leader that most of us would probably respect without question, read this entire story.

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Bob Ray, beloved 5-term Iowa governor, dies at 89

Daniel P. Finney, Des Moines Register
Published 3:04 p.m. CT July 8, 2018 | Updated 7:29 p.m. CT July 8, 2018

Robert Dolph Ray, a popular Iowa governor who served five consecutive terms from 1969 to 1983, died Sunday morning. He was 89.

Ray died of natural causes at the Wesley Acres care facility in Des Moines, where he had lived in recent years, his family said.

The genteel Des Moines native came to embody the image many Iowans hold of themselves.

A Republican, he was quiet, humble and thoughtful, yet confident in his deeply held beliefs with the courage to act, especially in the service of others.

Ray’s tenure as governor spanned the social upheaval of the late 1960s and the post-Watergate period of decreased trust in government. He built the modern state governorship and provided "ethical, moral and strategic leadership" that was recognized nationally and internationally, said David Oman, Ray's former chief of staff.

"That's how he lived and that's how he led," Oman said.

Very worthwhile story continues here:
https://www.press-citizen.com/story/news/2018/07/08/bob-ray-obituary-iowa-governor-robert-ray-dies/998099001/

 

 

Edited July 9, 2018 by TBoneTX

[Rob and Cheryl 56]

1 hour ago, TBoneTX said:

If you weren't familiar with someone who was the type of politician/leader that most of us would probably respect without question, read this entire story.

", he was quiet, humble and thoughtful, yet confident in his deeply held beliefs with the courage to act, especially in the service of others."

 

This is what we need our leaders to model, when will voters return to this norm in their choices?

 

 

 

 

 

[TBoneTX 45,522]

Probably never; too many on both sides want "stuff," and the politicians know this and kowtow to it.

[TBoneTX 45,522]

When Gov. Ray decided not to run again, his heir apparent was his Lt. Gov., Terry Branstad.

Branstad was pretty good, himself.

He eventually became the nation's longest-serving governor, albeit not continuously.

He resigned to become Pres. Trump's Ambassador to China.

His successor, Kim Reynolds, became Iowa's first female governor (governess?).