Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
SPAHN, Charles J., Jr.
SPAHN, Charles J., Jr. (Dubuque, IA- ). Retired Chairman of the Board and CEO,SPAHN AND ROSE LUMBER COMPANY. Spahn served as president of the company, founded by his grandfather, from 1950 to 1972. From 1972 to 1978 he served as chairman of the board and chief executive officer until his retirement.
Spahn served several years on the Northeast Iowa Council of Boy Scouts and on the boards of FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF DUBUQUE, DUBUQUE BOYS' CLUB, Chamber of Commerce, CLARKE COLLEGE, and the Community Chest. He was one of two lay people on the advisory board of Mercy Hospital during its very successful Umbrella of Mercy fund raising effort. His efforts on behalf of the Boys' Club led Spahn to be a recipient of the Man Behind the Boy Award.
Professionally, Spahn served many years on the boards of the Iowa and then the Northwest Lumbermen's Association. He chaired a committee at the national level that led to local retail outlets including lumberyards becoming valuable business partners with manufacturers. Spahn was also instrumental in the founding of the Lumbermen's Associated Buyers of Des Moines through which small dealers could buy merchandise as a pool. He held executive positions with Dubuque Stone Products which purchased EAGLE POINT LIME WORKS and the Ready Mix Concrete Company.