Richard Olson (politician)
Richard Olson | |
---|---|
Mayor of Des Moines | |
In office 1972–1979 | |
Preceded by | Thomas N. Urban |
Succeeded by | Peter Crivaro |
Personal details | |
Born | Aurora, Illinois | August 3, 1929
Died | August 5, 2014 Dedham, Maine | (aged 85)
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Cleojean Olson |
Richard Elmer Olson (August 3, 1929 – August 5, 2014) was an American politician and insurance executive who served as the Mayor of Des Moines, Iowa, for two consecutive terms from 1972 until 1979.
Olson is widely credited with spearheading the ongoing redevelopment and rebirth of
Biography
Olson was born on August 3, 1929, in
Olson worked as an agency manager at the Des Moines office of The Bankers Life, an
Olson was a member of the
He was once approached by the Democratic Party, who tried to persuade him to switch parties and run for Governor of Iowa as a Democrat.[1] Olson declined the offer. His wife, Cleojean Olson, recalled joking, ""I told him, 'If you run, you'll run divorced'."[1]
Olson served as the chairman of the
Death
Olson was killed in a car accident in Dedham, Maine, on the evening of August 5, 2014.[2] He was 85 years old.[1] Olson was returning to his Maine vacation home, after spending much of the day at a casino in Bangor,[6] when his Chevrolet Tahoe crossed the center line and struck an oncoming GMC pickup truck shortly before 6 p.m. on August 5.[2] The two people in the pickup truck, Roxanne Papken, 25, and Phillip Carter, 32, both of Bangor, Maine, were also killed.[1][2][7] Olson, who had been seen drinking at a nearby restaurant just before the crash,[6] had a blood alcohol content of 0.14, nearly twice the legal limit,[7] and was driving 76 miles per hour, 21 miles per hour over the speed limit.[6] Olson was survived by his wife, Cleojean, and four children. Philip Carter was survived by a young daughter.[7] Roxanne had had her wedding planned in a few weeks.
References
- ^ Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- ^ KCCI-TV. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- The Beacon News. Archived from the originalon 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- ^ "Richard E. Olson, 1999". Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame. 1999. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- ^ Meinch, Timothy (1979-11-05). "Republicans win two more seats in assembly". United Press International. The Daily Reporter (Spencer). Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- ^ a b c "Police: Former Mayor Drove Drunk in Fatal Crash". NECN. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
- ^ a b c "Iowa man was drunk, speeding in Dedham triple fatal collision, state police say". The Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 19 April 2015.