Steve King Hosts District Director Dave Ehler’s Retirement

December 23, 2009

Yesterday, I had the great fortune of being invited to attend the retirement party for Congressman Steve King’s District Director, Dave Ehler.

Dave Ehler holding Honorary Medals

The event was well attended by Ehler’s family, friends, and associates from throughout the area, and abroad, who braved ice fog slickened roads to make it to the retirement celebration for such an honorable public servant.

Dave has become well known in his hometown, of Holstein, Iowa, for his great leadership and real community organizer skills. Mr Ehler gained a great deal of respect from community leaders throughout the entire 5th Congressional District of Iowa. According to Rep. King, Ehler had made it a point to travel to each and every city or town in Iowa’s 5th District. This being Iowa’s largest district, makes this quite an accomplishment to be proud of.

Congressman King stood in front of a nice group of people who braved the ice fog slickened roads to come out and celebrate the many great accomplishments, of which most citizens would be proud to have accomplished a fraction of what this one man, Dave Ehler, has been accredited with.

Congressman Steve King stood before the attendees and spent about a half hour talking about Ehler’s dedicated years of service to Iowa’s 5th District. There was laughter, applause, and even a few tears shed, as the Congressman talked about the many accomplishments of a truly great man. He talked of putting his trust in Dave as Dave “kept the District on task and well organized” while King was busy attending to issues in Washington, D.C. Managing such a large district could not have been an easy task for any one individual.

At the end of King’s speech, he and his staff presented a special gift of a handcrafted plaque to the retiring District Director.

Gift to Dave Ehler (right), by Congressman Steve King and staff. In picture with Dave, is new District Director Wayne Brincks (left).

The following is just a brief list of Dave’s legacy of public service at the most professional of levels.

• U.S. Navy from July 1967 to August 1970
• Holstein, Iowa City Clerk from February 6, 1975 to December 27, 2002, where he continued to be instrumental in the betterment of his community in so many unheard of ways.
• Thirty year member of the Holstein Volunteer Fire Department
• Secretary/Treasurer of the Northwest Iowa League of Cities for 11 years and was the 19th member to be inducted into the NWLC Hall of Fame
• Four Lane Highway 20 group member since the early 80′s and Secretary/Treasurer of the group for 20 yrs.
• Board member of the Iowa Municipal Finance Officers Association
• Dave was a certified CPR instructor trainer, a certified Emergency Rescue Technician and a certified Emergency Medical Technician
• Dave and wife Judy have been foster parents for 27 kids in need for which the couple was honored with the prestigious “Angels in Adoption Award” in 2007
• Seven years as District Director for Iowa’s 5th Congressional District

In the past several years, Dave was highly instrumental in leading the fight for the Four Lane Highway 20 group. With grading work planned for next year, this project is well under way after having involved a great number of challenging hurdles to have this heavily traveled road turned into a four lane freeway. This will

Brigadier General Tim Orr presenting Medals

provide improved infrastructure to better handle the heavy load of truck and auto traffic that rolls across this highway every single day. The project is now well under way and, once finished, will allow travelers to set their cruise on 65 as they enjoy their travel across Northern Iowa on highway 20.

A special speaker, Brigadier General Tim Orr, the Adjutant General for Iowa, came from his Des Moines, IA office to thank Dave for his years of dedication to the Armed Forces, throughout his years, and to personally hand give him a Coin from the Adjutant General and The Commander’s Coin.

Congressman Steve King speaking at District Director Dave Ehler retirement party

Dave Ehler with his Father (right) and his Brother and Sisters

Dave with his wife, Judy, Son Eric, Daughter Sara, and Granddaughter.

Other stories of interest:

1. Rep. Steve King Signs Declaration of Health Care Independence
2. King Announces Retirement of District Director
3. Steve King Surprised by White House’s Acorn Cookies
4. Steve King Comes Out Against Racially Charged DOJ Decision
5. Iowa Congressman Steve King Responds to DHS telling Sheriff Joe Arpaio to Quit doing Their Job