LOETSCHER, Robert F.

Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald

LOETSCHER, Robert F. (Dubuque, IA, Dec. 16, 1906--August, 1992) Loetscher, part of the family that began FARLEY AND LOETSCHER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, attended Dubuque schools and graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He was one of the chief operating officers of Farley and Loetscher until it closed.

The first Foremen's Club in the State of Iowa was organized in Dubuque and in January 1945, Loetscher was serving as the Iowa director of the National Association of Foremen. (1) In December 1945 Robert Loetscher, superintendent at Farley and Loetscher and Iowa representative on the National Association of Foremen, served as president of the Foremen's League for Education and Association, a new national organization formed to resist efforts to unionize foremen. He was quoted as saying:

       If the foreman is pressured into the labor union his
       value to management is destroyed. Man cannot serve two
       masters. (2)

Among others listed by the League as members were C. E. Wilson, president of General Motors, and Harry Woodhead, president of the Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation. In 1952 Loetscher was elected vice president of the Iowa Manufacturers Association. (3) He served as president from 1953-1954 and chairman of the board from 1954-1955.

Loetscher held many local positions as well. He became a member of the UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE board of directors in 1949 and served until 1966. In 1950 he was named general chairman of a committee organized to raise $20,000 locally for maintenance funds for the university. In 1952 he was endorsed to be the second congressional district's delegate to the Republican National Convention where he initially supported Taft for president. (4) The same year, he was elected a director of the Community Chest. He also served on the board of BETHANY HOME established in the family home.

Recognized nationally as an expert in the wood products industry, he was a partner in the firm of Matso, Loetscher and Williams Inc. He was also a broker and Midwest representative for Allied International Inc. (5)

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Source:

1. "Bottoms Again Heads Foremen", The Telegraph-Herald, January 10, 1945, p. 12

2. "Dubuquer Heads Group Resisting Movement to Unionize Foremen," The Telegraph-Herald, December 14, 1945 p. 1

3 "City Briefs," The Telegraph-Herald, May 22, 1952 p. 24

4. "Delegation Pledtes to Bank Ike," The Telegraph-Herald, July 13, 1952, p. 5

5. Obituary. Telegraph Herald, August 30, 1992, p. 14