John Henry Kyl
Encyclopedia
John Henry Kyl was a Republican
member of the United States House of Representatives
from Iowa
. He was the father of Jon Kyl
, a Senator
from Arizona
, the current Senate Minority Whip.
Kyl was born in Wisner, Nebraska
and graduated from Nebraska State Teachers College
(Wayne, Nebraska
) and the University of Nebraska. He was a teacher at Nebraska State Teachers College from 1940 to 1950. In the 1950s he moved to Bloomfield, Iowa
where he joined his brother George in the clothing business
. He also worked as a television journalist for KTVO
, in Ottumwa, Iowa
.
Kyl ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1958, losing to Democrat
Steven V. Carter
. However, Carter died on November 4, 1959 after less than one year in office. Kyl then won a special election
to fill the vacancy. He continued to serve as the Representative from Iowa's 4th congressional district
for two additional terms, but was defeated in the Democratic landslide in 1964. He recaptured his former seat in 1966, and then won re-election in 1968 and 1970. Reapportionment`after the 1970 census put him into the same district as incumbent Democrat Neal Edward Smith, who defeated him in the 1972 election.
He was assistant secretary for congressional and legislative affairs in the Department of the Interior
from 1973 to 1977.
He was husband to Arlene Kyl, and he died of complications due to diabetes.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the United States House of Representatives
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...
. He was the father of Jon Kyl
Jon Kyl
Jon Llewellyn Kyl is the junior U.S. Senator from Arizona and the Senate Minority Whip, the second-highest position in the Republican Senate leadership. In 2010 he was recognized by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for his persuasive role in the Senate.The son...
, a Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, the current Senate Minority Whip.
Kyl was born in Wisner, Nebraska
Wisner, Nebraska
Wisner is a city in Cuming County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,270 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wisner is located at ....
and graduated from Nebraska State Teachers College
Wayne State College
Wayne State College is a four-year public college in the Nebraska State College System in Wayne, Nebraska. The current enrollment is 3,571. The college opened as a State Normal School in 1910 after the State purchased the private Nebraska Normal College . The State Normal College became State...
(Wayne, Nebraska
Wayne, Nebraska
Wayne is a city in Wayne County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 5,660 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Wayne County and the home of Wayne State College.-Geography:Wayne is located at ....
) and the University of Nebraska. He was a teacher at Nebraska State Teachers College from 1940 to 1950. In the 1950s he moved to Bloomfield, Iowa
Bloomfield, Iowa
Bloomfield is a city in Davis County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,601 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Davis County.-Geography:Bloomfield is located in the southeastern part of Iowa near the Missouri border....
where he joined his brother George in the clothing business
Haberdasher
A haberdasher is a person who sells small articles for sewing, such as buttons, ribbons, zips, and other notions. In American English, haberdasher is another term for a men's outfitter. A haberdasher's shop or the items sold therein are called haberdashery.-Origin and use:The word appears in...
. He also worked as a television journalist for KTVO
KTVO
KTVO is the ABC-affiliated television station for the Honey Lands area of Northeastern Missouri and Southeastern Iowa. Licensed to Kirksville, Missouri, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 33 from a transmitter northwest of Downing, Missouri along US 136...
, in Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa is a city in and the county seat of Wapello County, Iowa, United States. The population was 24,998 at the 2000 census. It is located in the southeastern part of Iowa, and the city is split into northern and southern halves by the Des Moines River....
.
Kyl ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1958, losing to Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Steven V. Carter
Steven V. Carter
Steven V. Carter was a Democratic U.S. Representative from south central Iowa in 1959.Born in Carterville, Utah, at age fourteen Carter moved with his parents to Lamoni, Iowa, and graduated from Lamoni High School...
. However, Carter died on November 4, 1959 after less than one year in office. Kyl then won a special election
Special elections to the United States House of Representatives
This is a list of special elections to the United States House of Representatives. Such elections are called by state governors to fill the vacancies that occur when a member of the House of Representatives dies or resigns before the biennial general election...
to fill the vacancy. He continued to serve as the Representative from Iowa's 4th congressional district
Iowa's 4th congressional district
Iowa's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that covers most of the north-central part of the state....
for two additional terms, but was defeated in the Democratic landslide in 1964. He recaptured his former seat in 1966, and then won re-election in 1968 and 1970. Reapportionment`after the 1970 census put him into the same district as incumbent Democrat Neal Edward Smith, who defeated him in the 1972 election.
He was assistant secretary for congressional and legislative affairs in the Department of the Interior
United States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior is the United States federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native...
from 1973 to 1977.
He was husband to Arlene Kyl, and he died of complications due to diabetes.