ia_gov_lightfoot
FORMER U.S. REP. JIM ROSS LIGHTFOOT
Age: 60 Born: September 27, 1938; Sioux City, Iowa Education: Farragut High School (1956); attended University of Iowa (1957) Military: U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserves (1956-64) Family: Married - Nancy Harrison; Four children Hometown: Shenandoah, Iowa Religion: Catholic Career: U.S. Representative (1985-96); Radio broadcaster (1961-70, 1976-84); Businessman (1970-76); Law enforcement officer (1959-61) |
• Born in Sioux City, Iowa and placed in an orphanage, Lightfoot was adopted by Elmer and Altha Lightfoot. He grew up on their farm in Farragut, Iowa.
• Lightfoot graduated from Farragut High School and joined the U.S. Army in 1956. He served on active and reserve duty until 1964. While in the Army Reserves, Lightfoot worked as a customer engineer for IBM and as a police officer for the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
• In 1961, Lightfoot returned to Iowa and became a farm broadcaster for KMA radio in Shenandoah, Iowa. He became one of the most well-known farm broadcasters and received several awards. He took a break from broadcasting from 1970-76 to manage a farm equipment manufacturing plant in Corsicana, Texas. During this time he also was elected to a two-year term on the Corsicana City Commission. In 1976, he returned to radio as the farm editor at KMA, where he stayed until 1984.
• Lightfoot ran for Congress in 1984 after then-U.S. Rep. Tom Harkin (D) announced that he would seek a seat in the Senate. He won and was re-elected three more times. Redistricting after the 1990 census reassigned Lightfoot to a new, more Democratic district, and he faced a tough fight in 1992 against then-Sec. of State Elaine Baxter. His margin of victory fell from 36% in 1990 to 2% in 1992. He easily defeated Baxter in 1994, this time by 17%.
• While in Congress, Lightfoot sered on the powerful Appropriations Committee. When the GOP gained control of the House of Representatives after the 1994 election, he was named chair of the Treasury, Post Office and General Services Appropriations Subcommittee.
• In 1996, Lightfoot sought to unseat Senator Tom Harkin, whom he had succeeded in the House. The race was very competitive, and Lightfoot lost by only a 5-point margin, even though Harkin outspent him by almost 3-1.
• After his defeat in the Senate race, Lightfoot worked briefly for a Washington law firm, but when Gov. Terry Branstad announced he would not seek re-election, Lightfoot headed back to Iowa to campaign for the governorÂ's office.