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O'CONNOR, Frank Aloysius: Difference between revisions
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O'CONNOR, Frank Aloysius. (Independence, IA, Aug. 2, 1875--Dubuque, IA, June 21, 1954). Upon graduation from the University of Iowa in 1898, O'Connor was admitted to the Iowa bar and opened a law office at New Hampton, Iowa with William Avery Smith who became a Iowa Supreme Court justice. They remained partners for forty-four years and moved their practice to Dubuque in 1918. Here they joined in practice with Hurd and Lenehan. O'Connor eventually became the senior partner in the firm of O'Connor, Thomas, McDermott and Wright.
O'Connor was a leader of the Iowa Democratic Party. Prior to moving to Dubuque, he served as a representative to the Iowa Legislature from Chickasaw County (1908 to 1912). He was the minority leader of the Iowa house in 1911 and 1912. In 1912 he was a delegate-at-large to the Democratic national convention in Baltimore, Maryland.
In 1932, O'Connor was a delegate-at-large and chairman of the Iowa delegation at the Chicago Democratic convention. Eight years later, he rose to place the name of Henry Wallace into nomination for vice-president at the 1940 Democratic convention. O'Connor's political service included membership on the Iowa governor's council of defense during WORLD WAR I from 1917 to 1918.
In 1934 he began federal service as general counsel for the Farm Credit Administration. Later that year he became the agency's general agent, a post he filled unti1 1937. In this role, O'Connor was responsible for the entire Farm Credit Administration including four credit banks established by congressional act.
Locally, O'Connor served as a director of the ARCHDIOCESE OF DUBUQUE, trustee and member of the board of regents of LORAS COLLEGE, director of MOUNT OLIVET CEMETERY, and president of the Dubuque Chamber of Commerce.
He was named a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory by Pope Piux XII in 1945.
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Source:
"Prominent Attorney Dies at 78," Telegraph Herald, June 22, 1954, p. 1
"Irish in Iowa." Online: http://www.celticcousins.net/irishiniowa/kerrybios.htm#oconnor
