Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
THOMPSON, Frank W.
THOMPSON, Frank W. (Dubuque, IA, Jan. 28, 1894--Dubuque, IA, 1957). MAYOR. Thompson was employed in several local grocery stores beginning in 1909 including the MCFADDEN COFFEE AND SPICE COMPANY. Beginning in 1916 Thompson operated the THOMPSON AND HOGAN grocery in Dubuque. In 1929 he was elected to the position of director of the Iowa Association of Retail Grocers and Meat Markets. (1)
Thompson began serving on the Dubuque City Council in 1938 and became mayor of the city in 1940. In 1945, as part of the annual spring cleanup in the city, he encouraged the collection of paper to be used in the preparation of shipping cartons and packing material to be used to "ship supplies to the front." (2) At home, he and the council faced criticism for refusing to issue Class C beer permits. Thompson rejected the argument that the council acted arbitrarily and added there was a feeling "there had been enough Class C permits for a town this size." (3)
As mayor, Thompson was concerned in 1946 by the lack of housing in the city. One solution he proposed was lifting restrictions on large homes owned by families on the hills. He was referring to the single family classification on many of these homes which could be converted into multiple family dwellings. Councilman Albert WHARTON remarked that it would be a better practice to make reclassification with the individual home owners. (4) Thompson served as a member of the newly organized veterans' emergency housing committee in April, 1946. (5)
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Source:
1. "Grocers Re-Elect Sioux City Man," Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, October 23, 1929, p. 15
2. "Firemen Back Clean-Up Work," Telegraph Herald, April 18, 1945, p. 5
3. "Fight Brews On Denial of Beer Permits," Telegraph Herald, October 14, 1945, p. 2
4. "Housing Woes Fret Council," Telegraph Herald, February 5, 1946, p. 1
5. "Vets' Housing Committee Organized," Telegraph Herald, April 23, 1946, p. 19
