Encyclopedia Dubuque
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RHOMBERG, Roger J.
RHOMBERG, Roger J. (Dubuque, IA, Aug. 29, 1926--Dubuque, IA, Mar. 29, 2000). In 1970 Rhomberg was the first person to receive the Telegraph Herald's "Man of the Year" award which was soon renamed the FIRST CITIZEN AWARD. (1) The owner of RHOMBERG FUR COMPANY, Rhomberg served on the board of directors of FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF DUBUQUE, DUBUQUE THRIFT PLAN, and the board of trustees of CLARKE COLLEGE. He was also the president or chairman of the DUBUQUE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Dubuque Citizens Advisory Commission, United Way, DUBUQUE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, DUBUQUE BOYS' CLUB,and March of Dimes. (1)
He was president of the Dubuque Area Industrial Development Corporation in 1970 when it announced an ambitious $500,000 expansion program over three years to develop new lands and industry in the area. (2) In 1966 as president of the Chamber of Commerce, Rhomberg with other government and business leaders attended the christening of the new USS Dubuque, a 570-foot Navy transport constructed to streamline the operations of amphibious forces. (3)
In 1970 Rhomberg received the Distinguished Civic Service Award from the DUBUQUE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
Source:
1. "1970 Telegraph Herald First Citizen," Telegraph Herald, Nov. 13, 2019, p. 5A
2. "Expansion Goals of Industrial Corp.," Telegraph Herald, May 31, 1970, p. 8
3. "USS Dubuque Ready for Christening in August, Telegraph Herald, July 11, 1966, p. 8