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Nicholas, William H.

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1892-1984

Biography

William Hall Nicholas (1892-1984) was born in Bristow, Butler County, Iowa. His first elected office was as Butler County recorder in 1916. He held that office for eight years. From 1946 to 1948, he was the state representative from Cerro Gordo County. Nicholas was elected lieutenant governor twice, in 1951 under William Beardsley and again in 1957 under Herschel Loveless. He sought the Republican nomination for governor three times in the 1950s and 1960s, but never received the nomination. He served on the Iowa Highway Commission from 1959 to 1963 and was a member of the Iowa Development Commission.   Mr. Nicholas (fondly known as Turkey Bill) once owned and operated eight chicken hatcheries in Iowa. He was a pioneer in the Iowa turkey industry, building the state's first turkey laying house in 1938. At one time his turkey operation produced 100,000 birds a year.   A World War I navy veteran, Nicholas was a member of the American Legion. He was also active in the Methodist Church, the Rotary, Masonic Lodge, and the Shrine. William H. Nicholas died at the age of ninety-one.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

William H. Nicholas Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MsC0288
Abstract

Lieutenant governor of Iowa and member of the Iowa State Highway Commission. Correspondence, press releases, etc., primarily relating to the Iowa State Highway Commission.

Dates: 1956-1971