Recalling pleasant things and taking the time to dwell on them.
Meet Iowa City’s Mayors – 1853 To Today – Volume V.
This is the fifth page in a series of six – covering the long history (1853 to today) of the mayors of Iowa City. You might want to return to the introductory page to read all of the preliminary information before proceeding here with Volume V…
At the time of this writing (2025), Iowa City – over our 172-year-history as an incorporated city – has had 65 different mayors serving 73 separate terms. Our three main resources for these webpages are 1) Irving Weber’s articles from March 1985 (above left), which at that time, covered 56 different mayors, 2) the listing of city mayors found in the records of the Iowa City Library (above right top), and 3) a list of mayors (1853-1882) taken from The History of Johnson County -1882 (above right bottom).
So here, for your reading enjoyment, are some updated facts and figures on each of our 65 illustrious city leaders – continuing on this page five…
Iowa City Mayor #49 – Thelma B. Lewis (1904-1988) became lowa City’s second woman mayor, following in the footsteps of Emma Harvat. Lewis served one one-year term (1961-1962)and was the last city leader to serve in the 80-year-old 1881 City Hall, with its 20-foot ceilings, located on the northwest corner of Washington and Linn streets. Read more here.Thelma B. Lewis came to Iowa City in 1931, where her husband Donald Lewis was a professor of psychology at the State University of Iowa. Lewis was active in local politics during the 1950s and 1960s, was a leader in the campaign to develop a council-manager plan for city government (1950), and from 1958 to 1963, served on the City Council. Lewis died on October 1, 1988 in Ontario, California.
It’s important to note here that Thelma D. Lewis was Iowa City’s final one-year term mayor. Effective with Dorr Hudson‘s term (1962), Iowa City’s council-appointed mayor would now serve for two-years when elected to the position. As you’ll see below, Hudson, while appointed to a two-year term (January 1962-January 1964), only served three months of that term, with two other men – Leroy S. Mercer and Fred Doderer – finishing up Hudson’s term through January 1964.
Iowa City Mayor #50 – Dorvan “Dorr” H. Hudson (1909-1962) took office as mayor in January 1962, and was the first mayor to serve in the new Iowa City Civic Center.Completed in 1961/1962, the Iowa City Civic Center demonstrated success with a comprehensive, well-conceived plan for municipal buildings and public services.Read more here.Hudson, who operated the Hudson Agency, and made his home at 216 Lowell St., died very suddenly of an aneurysm on March 27, 1962, completing just short of 3 months in office. Fifty-eight names, including Mrs. Hudson’s, were then suggested to the City Council as possible appointees to finish Hudson’s term.Iowa City Mayor #51 and #45– LeRoy S. Mercer (1889-1965) first served as Iowa City’s mayor from 1954 to 1958, and because of his experience, was appointed again from April to December 1962, serving the unexpired term (eight months) of Dorr Hudson.More on Mercer’s first term in Volume IV.Leroy Samuel Mercer was born November 30, 1889, at Newcomerstown, Ohio, and moved with his parents to Iowa City when he was five years old. He attended Iowa City public schools and the State University of Iowa, andpassed away on April 6, 1965, at the age of 75 years.Mercer Park and Swimming Pool in southeast Iowa City are named in his honor.Iowa City Mayor #52 – In order to fill the sudden occupancy in the mayor’s office when Dorr Hudson died, LeRoy Mercer was appointed to the office on April 13, 1962. But because of Mercer’s failing health, council member – Fred H. Doderer (1920-1991) acted alongside as mayor pro tem, until he was appointed mayor on December 4, 1962. His one-year + in office finished up the late Dorr Hudson’s two-year term (1962-1964). Below (left) the December 6, 1962 Press-Citizen published an editorial about ‘The New Mayor’. Below (right) – on January 22, 1963, the City Council published a multi-page report in the Press-Citizen, laying out the plans for 1963. FredDoderer made his home at 2008 Dunlap Court, and was the Personnel Director for the University of Iowa. Upon his death in 1991, the Press-Citizen, once again published an editorial on the “Ex-mayor (who) cared about Iowa City, and it’s people.”Iowa City Mayor #53 – Richard W. Burger (1925-2002) owned Burger Construction Company, lived at 1500 E. Washington Street, and served one two-year term as mayor of Iowa City.Iowa City Mayor #54– William (Bill) C. Hubbard (1925-2018) attended City High School and earned his BS in Electrical Engineering at the University of Iowa before he went into business, initially with his sister and brother-in-law, and later on his own, with Jackson Electric.Below: The January 3, 1966 edition of The Iowa City Press-Citizen announces “William Hubbard Named Mayor”. Hubbard was elected for one two-year term (1966-1968) as mayor, where he worked successfully with the University to keep the anti-war riots non-violent. His legacy includes: the city’s first Fair Housing ordinance, outlawing racial discrimination in rentals and ownership; the much-disputed one-way streets; the opening the Iowa City Ped Mall. Later, he was appointed Chair of the Merit Employment Commission by Governor Robert Ray, and he also served on a number of Boards, especially treasuring the work he was able to do with Goodwill Industries at a critical juncture in their history.Iowa City Mayor #55 – Loren L. Hickerson (1918-1989) was elected to the Iowa City City Council in 1966, served as mayor of Iowa City for two two-year terms (1968 to 1972), and also was a member of the board of directors of the Iowa City Chamber of Commerce from 1974 to 1977. Below: The January 2, 1968 edition of The Iowa City Press-Citizen announces Loren Hickerson elected mayor. Hickerson graduated from the University of Iowa in 1940, serving as editor of The Daily Iowan and assistant to the UI director of publications from 1940 to 1942. Hickerson’s career with the University was interrupted by World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945. He returned to the University as an instructor in the School of Journalism and later became director of alumni records and executive directory of the UI Alumni Association, positions he held until 1966.Iowa City Mayor #56– With his father-in-law – William J. “Bill” Holland – serving as mayor from 1951-1954, C.L. “Tim” Brandt (1930-2008) became mayor in 1972, serving one two-year term.Brandt owned and operated Brandt Heating and Air Conditioning – which he founded in 1953, and with his wife, Pat, made their home at 427 S. Governor Street. Brandt was involved in the Iowa City baseball program and was instrumental in the development of the Mercer Park baseball diamonds and the Bobby Oldis Baseball Field at City Park.Iowa City Mayor #57– Edgar R. Czarnecki (1931-2014) was a SUI professor, living at 230 Windsor Drive. He served one two-year term as Iowa City mayor after being hand-selected by Mayor Brandt as his successor.Thirty-six years after the fact, in 2011, Iowa Citians had finally had enough of urban renewal’s one-way downtown traffic, which had been set up in the mid-1970’s. In an editorial appearing in the June 22, 2011 Press-Citizen (below), it’s pointed out that Mayor Edgar Czarnecki was voted out of office in the November 1975 elections because of the growing complaints of how the City Council was dragging its feet in completing the Urban Renewal Project.Iowa City Mayor #58, #61 – Mary C. Neuhauser had one of the longest tenures on the City Council with nine years (1975-83), and was the third woman to serve as Iowa City’s mayor. She was elected by her fellow Council members to serve as mayor two different times in her career: 1976-78, and 1982-84. You can read more about her second term here.
Neuhauser’s political career began with her 1973 appointment to the Iowa City Riverfront Commission, a city-chartered committee. As she worked with city government, Neuhauser became increasingly frustrated by the City Council’s inability to complete the urban renewal project begun in the late-1960s. The resignation of a council member in 1974 required the council to appoint a member to fill out the term; Neuhauser applied for the position and won the appointment. She served until 1983 on the City Council and, as mayor, spearheaded the successful completion of the urban renewal project.A Connecticut native who moved to lowa City in 1963, Mary Neuhauser was born on August 27, 1934 in New York, graduated from Radcliffe College (1956); and the University of Iowa, College of Law (1982). The wife of University of lowa professor Paul Neuhauser, the Neuhauser family lived at 914 Highwood (Black Springs).Iowa City Mayor #59– Robert A. Vevera (1933-2002)was born in Iowa City, and graduated from Iowa City High School in 1951, lettering in both football and baseball. Vevera joined the Iowa City Police Department in 1962, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant before leaving the force in 1975. Vevera was elected to the Iowa City City Council in 1976, reelected in 1978, serving as mayor for one two-year term (1978-1980), and leaving the council in 1981.Vevera owned and operated Vevera and Sons Masonary since 1967, lived with his family at 2839 Friendship Street in Iowa City, and passed away in 2002, at the age of 69.Iowa City Mayor #60– John Balmer, vice-president of Plumbers Supply Company, was the one of the youngest mayors ever elected (age 32 in 1980). The winner wasMayor #2 – Joseph E. Fales (1854-1855) – age 25!In the August 9, 1980 edition of The Press-Citizen, Irving Weber wrote about the famous Iowa City Fire Department horses: Snow Ball & High Ball. In celebration of the 1925 photograph (on the left) taken with Mayor J.J. Carroll and the Iowa City Fire Department, Mayor John Balmer and the Iowa City Fire Chief took a photograph in the same location on S. Linn Street (across from the Post Office). Read more here about Mayor J.J. Carroll.Mayor John Balmer (1960-1962) in 2024 discusses the process Iowa City uses to select their mayor.Watch the interview on YouTube.
January 4, 1961 – The Iowa City Press-Citizen announces that Thelma B. Lewis has became Iowa City’s second woman mayor, following in the footsteps of Emma Harvat.
March 27, 1962 – Mayor Dorr H. Hudson dies very suddenly of an aneurysm, completing just short of 3 months in office.
January 2, 1968 – The Iowa City Press-Citizen announces Loren Hickerson has been elected mayor.
January 2, 1976 – The Iowa City Press-Citizen announces that Mary C. Neuhauser has become the third woman to serve as Iowa City’s mayor.
Kudos to the amazing resources below for the many quotes, photographs, etc. used on this page.
