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Friday, July 22
Honoring Those Who Go Before Us - Dick Fallow
by
Caroline Vernon
on Fri 22 Jul 2005 09:26 PM CDT
 Honoring Those Who Go Before Us
Dick Fallow - 08/23/20
by Caroline Vernon
It has been in my heart for some time to share the stories of various individuals who have committed their hearts and minds in service to this great country as well as their fellow man. It is not the first mile of compulsion or duty that will transform man and his world, but rather the second mile of free service and liberty- loving devotion. So it is with gratitude and reverence that I am compelled to share the first of many profiles in courage with Blog For Iowa. Dick Fallow was an easy first choice for me. If ever there was a second-miler... Dick is the man!
Dick Fallow was born in Hartford, Connecticut on August 23, 1920, to parents Gladys Bennett and Everett Fallow. The youngest of three children (one sister, one brother), Dick grew up on the East Coast during the Great Depression. As a young man he worked various jobs before enlisting in the American Field Service during WWII. The AFS consisted of many people who were unable to go into combat but wanted to be of service by helping the allied forces. Dick served as an ambulance driver for two years, assigned to the 8th British Army - most of their troops were primarily in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and England. Although they were technically not allowed in combat, these drivers were often under fire. After the war, the AMS went on to promote peace and understanding among people through student exchange services.
After his stint with the AMS, Dick joined the United Electrical and Radio Workers Union in 1945. It wasn’t long before the organization realized Dick’s talents and put them to good use. Dick was a Business Union Rep - a boomer - someone who went around to different job sites, assisting with organizing and various campaigns. This brought him to Sioux County in NW Iowa in the late 40's, where he met his wife, Mickey, of 47 years. Dick and Mickey were married in 1951, and later moved to the Quad Cities in 1952 where they settled in order to raise their three daughters. At that time Dick joined with the local AFL-CIO.
By 1967, the AFL National Staff recruited Dick to help coordinate national efforts in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Dick continues to have long-standing associations through the National Federation of Labor as well as the National Alliance of Retired Americans. He officially retired in 1988, but those of us who know him realize he never REALLY retired. He continues to compel and inspire his colleagues of many years as well as the younger generations. Dick believes, above all else, dignity and fairness on the job is most important; “We’re all in this together - combined, we all can make a difference”.
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Iowan Tom Dorr Confirmed for USDA Post
by
Chad Thompson
on Fri 22 Jul 2005 01:00 PM CDT
 Iowan Tom Dorr Confirmed for USDA Post
A former Iowa farmer, Tom Dorr, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to become the Undersecretary for Rural Development, four years after his initial appointment in 2001.
The Senate voted 62-38 Wednesday to confirm Dorr as USDA’s
undersecretary for rural development. But the vote didn’t come until
Dorr delivered a written apology for past violations of federal subsidy
rules and remarks that have been criticized as racially insensitive.
In
Dorr’s letter, parts of which were read on the Senate floor, Dorr said
for the first time that his illegal subsidy claims were wrong: “I
regret that I did it.” He went on to say that he hoped other farmers would
learn from the mistake.
Dorr
had previously acknowledged that he structured his family’s farm
interests at Marcus, Ia., to avoid a cap on the subsidies that
individual producers can receive. However, he had steadfastly denied
any wrongdoing, although family trusts were forced to repay the
government $34,000.
Sen.
Tom Harkin, D-Ia., dropped a filibuster threat after the apology letter
made it clear that Republicans had the votes to win approval of Dorr.
CattleNetwork.com has Tom Harkin's statement on the confirmation:
“In
my 20 years in the Senate, I have never before opposed an Iowan for an
appointment, regardless of their political affiliation or
philosophy. But I cannot support this nominee.
“By
his own admission, Thomas Dorr set up his farm operations in a manner
which evaded the law and then knowingly misrepresented this arrangement
to the government.
“What
is worse, it appears that additional money—perhaps more than $70,000—is
still owed to USDA. Both Mr. Dorr and the Administration
consistently and steadfastly refuse to provide Congress with any
documentation to clear this very serious matter up.
“Today—after
four years of questioning and examination of this nomination—he finally
acknowledged and apologized for these actions. This eleventh hour
apology and public admission of wrong doing may be significant, but
that is not enough to reward him with a top job at USDA.”
The
national reports made it seem like 'incidental racial comments' were
the only reason the Senate opposed the nomination.
Nonsense. This nomination was opposed - and should have been
blocked - because someone running a "Rural Development" office had
purposely milked federal subsidy policy for an admitted $34,000 -
probably more.
When the
farmers who are out there earning a living do that - they get in
trouble. This GOP activist instead gets a promotion to a pretty
powerful job.
Voting
to confirm Dorr was a vote in favor of corruption - period. It
doesn't surprise me that the Senate Republicans lined up 55-0 to
support Dorr.
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