Jim Ross Lightfoot
Encyclopedia
James Ross "Jim" Lightfoot (born September 27, 1938) is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives
from Iowa
.
on September 27, 1938 and was raised on a farm near Farragut, Iowa
, where he graduated from high school in 1956
and United States Army Reserve
. He began his adult career working for IBM
as a customer engineer, and was eventually transferred to Tulsa, Oklahoma
. He then worked as city police officer.
Returning to his native Iowa in the early 1960s, Lightfoot became a broadcaster on KMA (AM)
radio, the flagship station of May Broadcasting Company. While at KMA he and his wife (the former Nancy Harrison of Corsicana, Texas
) founded three retail stores in southwest Iowa. Lightfoot was also well known as a rodeo announcer and sought-after speaker for various organizations’ events.
He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1984, after five-term incumbent Tom Harkin
gave up the seat to make a successful run for the United States Senate. Lightfoot served there for six terms, compiling a mostly conservative voting record. During his last term, he served as chairman of the subcommittee of the United States House Committee on Appropriations
which funded the Treasury Department, Postal Service, White House and other federal agencies. Lightfoot also spent eight years on the United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation
dealing with transportation issues. He holds commercial pilot and flight instructor ratings, which have allowed him a wide perspective on the aviation industry.
In 1996, conforming to a promise to only serve twelve years in Congress, he left his seat to run for the Senate against Harkin. His entry into the race came in March, very late in the election cycle. At a severe financial disadvantage, Lightfoot lost the race, after strong pre-election campaigning on Harkin's behalf by then President Bill Clinton
, who carried Iowa by eight points in the presidential election.
In 1998, at the request of the Republican Party, he ran against then state senator Tom Vilsack
for Governor of Iowa. Lightfoot led in polling for most of the campaign, but Harkin's campaigning on Vilsack's behalf enabled Vilsack to win narrowly.
In December 1998 Lightfoot joined Forensic Technology, Inc. as Vice President. http://forensictechnologyinc.com Lightfoot also serves on the company's Board of Directors.
Lightfoot was Senior Policy Advisor for Federal Government Relations, with the Washington, D.C.
, office of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooneyhttp://www.bipc.com. He was a non-attorney professional in the firm's Federal Government Relations Section.
In 2009, Lightfoot started his own consulting firm Lightfoot Strategieshttp://www.lightfootstrategies.com
Lightfoot’s personal and professional awards include the Oscar in Agriculture Award, Jason Award, AOPA Hartranft Award, FAA Excellence Award, Honorary ATF Agent, Top Cops Award and Secret Service Director's Award. He serves on the board of directors for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
(NCMEC)http://www.missingkids.com/ NCMEC named Lightfoot Emeritus Director in 2006.
. They have four children, professional photographer Jim Lightfoot Jr., Allison, Jamie and Terri.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
.
Early life
Lightfoot was born in Sioux City, IowaSioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
on September 27, 1938 and was raised on a farm near Farragut, Iowa
Farragut, Iowa
Farragut is a city in Fremont County, Iowa, USA. The population was 509 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Farragut is located at near the East Nishnabotna River....
, where he graduated from high school in 1956
Career
Lightfoot served eight years in the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and United States Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
. He began his adult career working for IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
as a customer engineer, and was eventually transferred to Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
. He then worked as city police officer.
Returning to his native Iowa in the early 1960s, Lightfoot became a broadcaster on KMA (AM)
KMA (AM)
KMA is a radio station licensed to serve Shenandoah, Iowa. With a colorful history, it is one of the few radio stations in the country tracing back to its original 1925 owners.-History:...
radio, the flagship station of May Broadcasting Company. While at KMA he and his wife (the former Nancy Harrison of Corsicana, Texas
Corsicana, Texas
Corsicana is a city in Navarro County, Texas, United States. It is located on Interstate 45 some fifty-five miles south of downtown Dallas. The population was 24,485 at the 2000 census...
) founded three retail stores in southwest Iowa. Lightfoot was also well known as a rodeo announcer and sought-after speaker for various organizations’ events.
He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1984, after five-term incumbent Tom Harkin
Tom Harkin
Thomas Richard "Tom" Harkin is the junior United States Senator from Iowa and a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives ....
gave up the seat to make a successful run for the United States Senate. Lightfoot served there for six terms, compiling a mostly conservative voting record. During his last term, he served as chairman of the subcommittee of the United States House Committee on Appropriations
United States House Committee on Appropriations
The Committee on Appropriations is a committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is in charge of setting the specific expenditures of money by the government of the United States...
which funded the Treasury Department, Postal Service, White House and other federal agencies. Lightfoot also spent eight years on the United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation
United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation
The Subcommittee on Aviation is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over civil aviation, including most aspects of the Federal Aviation Administration , the Transportation Security Administration, and the National...
dealing with transportation issues. He holds commercial pilot and flight instructor ratings, which have allowed him a wide perspective on the aviation industry.
In 1996, conforming to a promise to only serve twelve years in Congress, he left his seat to run for the Senate against Harkin. His entry into the race came in March, very late in the election cycle. At a severe financial disadvantage, Lightfoot lost the race, after strong pre-election campaigning on Harkin's behalf by then President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, who carried Iowa by eight points in the presidential election.
In 1998, at the request of the Republican Party, he ran against then state senator Tom Vilsack
Tom Vilsack
Thomas James "Tom" Vilsack is an American politician, a member of the Democratic Party, and presently the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. He served as the 40th Governor of the state of Iowa. He was first elected in 1998 and re-elected to a second four-year term in 2002...
for Governor of Iowa. Lightfoot led in polling for most of the campaign, but Harkin's campaigning on Vilsack's behalf enabled Vilsack to win narrowly.
In December 1998 Lightfoot joined Forensic Technology, Inc. as Vice President. http://forensictechnologyinc.com Lightfoot also serves on the company's Board of Directors.
Lightfoot was Senior Policy Advisor for Federal Government Relations, with the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, office of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooneyhttp://www.bipc.com. He was a non-attorney professional in the firm's Federal Government Relations Section.
In 2009, Lightfoot started his own consulting firm Lightfoot Strategieshttp://www.lightfootstrategies.com
Lightfoot’s personal and professional awards include the Oscar in Agriculture Award, Jason Award, AOPA Hartranft Award, FAA Excellence Award, Honorary ATF Agent, Top Cops Award and Secret Service Director's Award. He serves on the board of directors for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is a private, non-profit organization established in 1984 by the United States Congress.-Establishment and overview:...
(NCMEC)http://www.missingkids.com/ NCMEC named Lightfoot Emeritus Director in 2006.
Personal life
Lightfoot and wife Nancy reside in White Oak, TexasWhite Oak, Texas
White Oak is a city in Gregg County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,469 at the 2010 census.-Geography:White Oak is located at ....
. They have four children, professional photographer Jim Lightfoot Jr., Allison, Jamie and Terri.