DICKINSON, Richard E. (Rick)

Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald

DICKINSON, Richard E. (Rick). (Sabula, IA--- ). A graduate of William Penn College with a degree in business and history, Dickinson became the president and chief executive officer of the GREATER DUBUQUE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION in June 1, 1995. Prior to this appointment, he worked as a manufacturer sales representative for four months; salesman for Borden Chemical of Columbus, Ohio for five years and marketing manager for Franklin International of Columbus, Ohio for two and one-half years. Dickinson was an adult probation parole officer for five years for the Seventh Judicial District covering Clinton and Jackson County. (1)

Dickinson's career included years of public service. He served as a city council member before being elected to the Jackson County Board of Supervisors for six years. In 1978, he was elected the mayor of Sabula. From 1990 to 1994, Dickinson served in the Iowa Legislature as the representative for the 34th House District. (2) Dickinson has also served as president of the DUBUQUE RACING ASSOCIATION.

Dickinson, Mayor Terry DUGGAN, and City Manager Michael VAN MILLIGEN working in close cooperation have been credited with being the leaders who brought Dubuque out of economic despair into becoming a shining example of city growth and prosperity. The first issue was the complex sale of FDL FOODS INC. to FARMLAND FOODS INC. (3) All three believed that city government had an important role in creating opportunities for private-sector investment. (4) Public-private partnerships encouraged government and business to work together to solve problems to everyone's benefit. Dubuque Initiatives, a quasi-public group, included as members city employees, city manager, elected officials and leaders of area nonprofits and the private sector.

Under Dickinson, GDDC developed six pillars of focus: business retention and expansion, workfore solutions, national marketing, Startup Dubuque, sustainable innovations and Dubuque's True North. (5)

Through projects including the ICE HARBOR renovation, development of the NATIONAL MISSISSIPPI RIVER MUSEUM AND AQUARIUM, Grand River Center, Lower Main Street, Dubuque Industrial Center West, Historic Millwork District, BEE BRANCH restoration and the attraction of such industries as IBM the employment levels of Dubuque County rose from 33,000 in the 1980s to an estimated 55,000 in 2011. (6)

In 2018 Dickinson and the GDDC reminded the community of the organization's "Dubuque True North" initiative to revitalize Dubuque's North End. The project began with collecting data to understand those who lived in the area and their perceptions of the neighborhood. In 2018 the organization began the conversion of slums and blight area into affordable single-family homes. (7)

---

Source:

1. "Dickinson: Education a Priority," Telegraph Herald, June 1, 1990, p. 3

2. Ibid.

3. Bergstrom, Kathy, "The Art of the Deal," Telegraph Herald, April 14, 1996, p. 1

4. Piper, Andy and Schmidt, Eileen Mozinski, "'The Common Good,'" Telegraph Herald, February 20, 2011, p. 1

5. Ibid.

6. Ibid.

7. Montgomery, Jeff, "'Bold' Move Puts North End in Spotlight," Telegraph Herald, July 20, 2018, p. 1