MELCHIOR, Harlan G.

MELCHIOR, Harlan G. (Dubuque, IA, Apr. 23, 1912--Scottsdale, AZ, Sept. 21, 2003) Melchior graduated from the COLUMBIA ACADEMY and College (now LORAS COLLEGE) in 1934. He later received graduate degrees from the School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Northwestern University, Chicago.

Melchior was vice president of the trust department at AMERICAN TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK until his retirement in 1977.

He was a former MAYOR of Dubuque. In June, 1921 during his administration an ordinance was passed limiting the time a vehicle could be parked along certain streets and the penalty for violation. (1)In May 1927, Melchoir suggested a bond issue to finance the construction of electrically operated automatic traffic control signals in the downtown area. He called Main Street nothing more than a 'parade grounds' at certain hours of the day with intersecting streets blocked by the solid line of traffic. Because of the narrowness of the streets, the signals could not be placed at the center of the intersections but instead on the four corners. (1) His feeling toward wealth that same year was expressed in an interview:

                    The intermediate, not too much wealth, yet enough to make
                    poverty impossible, I believe gives the greatest happiness.
                    The man of great wealth, of course, can find happiness
                    through helping those less fortunate who, while they suffer
                    for lack of the comforts that wealth will buy, find
                    happiness in their families. (2)

In January, 1922 Melchoir was elected a new cashier of UNION TRUST BANK. (3)

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Source:

1. "Ordinance Number 102," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, June 19, 1921, p. 9

1. "Melchoir Wants Traffic Signals," Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, May 8, 1927, p. 2

2. "More Advice is Sought by Google," Telegraph-Herald, February 22, 1927, p. 5

3. "Union Trust Bank Names Officers," Telegraph-Herald, January 22, 1929, p. 5