Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
SCHUELLER, Leo
SCHUELLER, Leo. (Sept. 20, 1903-Dubuque, IA, Feb. 6, 1974). MAYOR. Schueller worked as a tool and die maker at A.Y.MCDONALD MANUFACTURING COMPANY before taking a job at the JOHN DEERE DUBUQUE WORKS. Schueller served on the Dubuque City Council from 1950 through 1961 and held the office of mayor in 1954. He was the grandson of Joseph J. Schueller, who laid the cornerstone of the DUBUQUE COUNTY COURTHOUSE in 1891.
During his term as mayor, the original wooden tower on the DUBUQUE CITY HALL was removed after it's condition had deteriorated. The GROUND OBSERVER CORPS saw their daily hours reduced from three to two hours. The MILWAUKEE RAILROAD SHOPS closed. In 1954 pure water in large amounts was located from a test site on CITY ISLAND. By 1954, the city council had decided against using property at RAFFERTY SLOUGH for the sewage treatment plant in favor of a site further south along CATFISH CREEK. Traffic after WORLD WAR II was so heavy that tolls were removed on the JULIEN DUBUQUE BRIDGE on December 27, 1954.
In 1968 he retired and ran successfully for a position on the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors to fill an unexpired term. During his term, the county zoning ordinance proved controversial. (1) Renovation or demolition of the DUBUQUE COUNTY COURTHOUSE was also controversial with the board of supervisors supporting renovation. (2) In 1969 as chairman of the board, Schueller accepted a copy of a sketch of the Courthouse that was accepted for display in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D. C. (3) The three-member board of supervisors was joined in supporting the renovation by the DUBUQUE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, the Dubuque County Taxpayers' Association, and a citizen's committee headed by John Petrakis. The renovation vote required a 60% majority of those voting to pass. Schueller was also one of two supervisors, one supervisor was absent, who approved a zoning request for 3.2 acres west of Key West to be used for the construction of studios for KDUB-TV, Dubuque's first television station. (4)
He won a close re-election contest in 1970 to a four-year term. Several months prior to his death, Schueller resigned citing age and health.
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Source:
1. Miller, Jim. "Immortalized by an Artist," Telegraph-Herald, September 28, 1969, p. 9
2. "Supervisors Reaffirm Support of Renovation," Telegraph-Herald, June 3, 1971
3. "County Zoning," The Telegraph-Herald, April 5, 1970, p. 116
4. TV Station's Zoning Gets County OK," Telegraph-Herald, October 29, 1969, p. 4
