Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
JUSTMANN, C. Robert
JUSTMANN, C. Robert (Dubuque, IA--Poulsbo, WA, Oct. 28, 2010). MAYOR. Justmann left high school at the age of sixteen to join the Army. He served in Europe and Africa during WORLD WAR II. Returning to Dubuque in 1945, he attended the UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE and then entered the Air Force in 1950 as a military officer. He served as a liaison engineer and linguist and a United States Department consultant for the West German embassy. (1)
After an absence from the city for twenty-two years, Justmann returned to Dubuque. He worked as an investment executive with Shearson, Hayden, Stone Inc., taught political science and economics, and served as alumni director at the University of Dubuque. Justmann served one term on the city council including a year as mayor in 1975. (2)
During his term of mayor, Justmann championed city beautification. It was announced in January 1975 that the city council wanted to establish housing rehabilitation loans and had approved an application for a $25,000 federal grant to sponsor fine arts programs in the city's neighborhoods. Entitled "City Spirit," the program was sponsored by the National Enowment for the arts and was led locally by the mayor and the DUBUQUE ARTS COUNCIL. (3) In February he called for ideas from civic organizations. (4) In April, 1965 a civic project to plant, paint, and build began. Scheduled to last for weeks, the work would focused on twenty-five public areas. A financial boost was offered in what was called the "World's Largest Garage Sale" at the Dubuque County Fair Grounds. (5) planning began for AVON PARK. The controversial statue CONTINUUM was installed near the TOWN CLOCK PLAZA. On September 16, 1975 the council, against the advice of city staff, agreed to include captains and lieutenants in the collective bargaining group. Caught up in the bicentennial fever, the Dubuque City Council supported the idea of painting the JULIEN DUBUQUE BRIDGE red, white, and blue and the city accepted the offer of Jackson MARSHALL of land to establish a park. (6) A member of several arts groups, Justmann was instrumental in reviving the FARMERS' MARKET. (7)
Other events to occur during his term as mayor can be found entering the date "1975" in the search feature of this encyclopedia.
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Source:
1. Telegraph Herald (online) Oct. 31, 2010
2. Ibid.
3. Fyten, David," Council Wants to Establish Housing Rehabilitation Loans, Telegraph Herald, January 28, 1975, p. 11
4. "City Beautification Ideas Aired," Telegraph Herald, February 9, 1975, p. 19
5. Fyten, David, "'Garage Sale' Boosts Beautification Effort," Telegraph Herald, April 27, 1975, p. 27
6. "City Expected to Accept Donation of 50-Acre Tract for New Parkland, Telegraph Herald, May 12 1975, p. 4
7. Fyten, David, "They Grow It All for You," Telegraph Herald, October 10, 1982, p. 6