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View as PDF: Iowa Chapter History – 06.11.2025

APWA Iowa Chapter History

Updated 6/11/2025

In 1953, the American Public Works Association (APWA) received a petition from Ralph Graham, City of Davenport Construction Superintendent, and Carl Fagerlind, City of Waterloo Street Commissioner, requesting a charter for a new APWA chapter in Iowa. The national APWA Board of Directors approved the charter request and the new Iowa Chapter of APWA was set to select officers at its organizational meeting held in September, 1953. The Iowa Chapter is eleventh oldest local chapter of APWA. Nearly 40 members and guests attended the organizational meeting held in Waterloo on September 24, 1953. The following officers were elected:

  • President – Cletus Allen, Dubuque
  • Vice President – Dean Larabee, Waterloo
  • Secretary/Treasurer – Carl D. Smith, Cedar Rapids
  • Directors – Clifford Hamlin, Mason City and John Anderson, Marshalltown

As a part of that meeting, a first was initiated with the conference being transcribed on public radio station KWWL in Waterloo.

The Iowa Chapter of APWA sponsored its first annual spring conference at Iowa State College in Ames at the Memorial Union on February 10th and 11th, 1955. Continued in Ames at the Memorial Union and the Scheman Center until 2003. Since 2004, the annual spring conference has been held in West Des Moines.

APWA Presidents

  1. Harold Smith – 1990
  2. Larry Stevens – 2014

National Regional Director (Region VI)

  1. Leo Johnson – 1969 to 1974
  2. Larry Stevens – 2007 to 2013

Iowa Chapter Delegates:

  • William McElvee – 1964 to 1969
  • Cletus Allen – 1970
  • J. Anderson – 1971
  • John White – 1972
  • Ralph Speer – 1973
  • Harold Sunday – 1974 to 1975
  • Harold Smith –-1976 to 1983
  • William Amundson – 1984 to 1986
  • Floyd Bentz – 1987 to 1998
  • Larry Stevens – 1999 to 2007
  • Al Olson – 2008 to 2014
  • John Joiner – 2015 to 2017
  • Ron Knoche – 2018 to present

Emerging Leaders Academy Graduates from Iowa

  1. Brian Coopman, City of Davenport – 2011-2012
  2. Amy Johannsen Foster, City of Marion – 2012-2013
  3. Eric Petersen, City of West Des Moines – 2013-2014
  4. Brian Schadt, City of Davenport – 2013-2014
  5. Samantha Hayden, City of Ankeny – 2015-2016
  6. Steven Johnson, City of Des Moines – 2016-2017
  7. Rachel Conrad, City of Clive – 2017-2018
  8. Renee Tyler, City of Dubuque – 2017-2018
  9. Katie Eickholt, City of Sioux City – 2022-2023
  10. Jeremy Bril, City of Decorah – 2022-2023
  11. Brian Hommer – 2023-2024
  12. Shane McQuillan, City of Des Moines – 2023-2024
  13. Kylie Petersen, City of Cedar Rapids – 2023-2024
  14. Eryn Ston, City of Cedar Rapids/Iowa DOT – 2023-2024

Presidential Award for Chapter Excellence (PACE) Award Committee Chairs

  1. Pat Kozitza – 2011
  2. Pat Kozitza -2012
  3. Pat Kozitza – 2013
  4. Pat Kozitza – 2014
  5. Beth Richards – 2015
  6. Beth Richards – 2016
  7. Beth Richards – 2017
  8. Sarah Okerlund – 2019
  9. Sarah Okerlund – 2020
  10. Sarah Okerlund – 2021
  11. Katie Eickholt – 2022
  12. Katie Eickholt – 2023
  13. Katie Eickholt – 2024
  14. Katie Eickholt – 2025

Accredited Agencies in Iowa

  1. City of Bettendorf (since 2005)
  2. City of Davenport (since 2007)
  3. City of Des Moines (since 2022)
  4. City of Cedar Rapids (since 2023)

North American Snow Conference Hosted by the Iowa Chapter

  • 1988
  • 2009
  • 2017

 

NATIONAL AWARDS

Chapter Membership Achievement

  • 301-500 members – 2012
  • 501- 850 members – 2019 (Sara Kappos, Membership Chair)

Donald C. Stone Award for Excellence in Education

  • Bret Hodne, City of West Des Moines – 2006
  • Matt Dolan, City of West Des Moines – 2013

APWA Excellence in Snow and Ice Recipients

  • 2012 – City of Ankeny
  • 2014 – City of Bettendorf
  • 2014 – City of Council Bluffs
  • 2024 – City of Cedar Rapids

Exceptional Performance

  • Diversity – Equitable tree distribution – City of Des Moines, 2021
  • Journalism – Derecho cleanup communications – City of Des Moines, 2021

Harry S. Swearingen Award for Work Performed on Behalf of APWA

  • Carl C. Fagerlind – 1961

Heritage

  • Historical Calendar – 1986

Membership Citation

  • 1972

Projects of the Year

  • City Hall Remodeling, City of Cedar Rapids – 2013
  • Paramount Theatre Restoration, City of Cedar Rapids – 2014

Technical and Management Innovation Award

  • Native Plant Community Policy, Greg Parker, Johnson County – 2007

Top 10 Leader of the Year Award from Iowa

  1. Harris Seidel, City of Ames – 1964
  2. Joseph Coupal, Jr., Iowa Highway Commission – 1971
  3. Arnold Chantland, City of Ames – 1972
  4. Harold Smith, City of Des Moines – 1979
  5. William Amundson, City of Sioux City – 1985
  6. Gary Simmons, City of Postville – 2002
  7. Bret Hodne, City of West Des Moines – 2007
  8. Terry Cox, City of Harlan – 2014
  9. Greg Reeder, City of Council Bluffs – 2015
  10. Paul Wiegand, Iowa State University – 2016
  11. Larry Stevens, HR Green – 2017
  12. Rick Fosse, University of Iowa – 2018
  13. John Klostermann, City of Dubuque – 2019
  14. Randy Krauel, City of Carroll – 2020
  15. Wilf Nixon, Professional Snowfighters Association – 2021
  16. Jeff May, City of Clive – 2022
  17. Jonathan Gano, City of Des Moines – 2023
  18. Ron Knoche, City of Iowa City -2024
  19. Adam Smith, City of Des Moines – 2025
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