An influential figure in Iowa politics for more than four decades has died. Former House Speaker Don Avenson, of Oelwein, died of a heart attack on Friday. He was 72. Avenson was the Democratic Party’s unsuccessful nominee for governor in 1990 and he’d been statehouse lobbyist ever since. Avenson served eight years as House Speaker, the legislature’s most powerful post. No other speaker has had a longer tenure. Jerry Fitzgerald struck up a friendship shortly after the two were elected to the Iowa House nearly 45 years ago. Fitzgerald says Avenson was “a towering figure” with shrewd deal-making skills.

Fitzgerald was with Avenson when he died. The two had been vacationing. They were driving through Nebraska when Avenson suffered a heart attack. Republican Terry Branstad, who defeated Avenson in the 1990 race for governor, issued a written statement Saturday, calling Avenson a “strong and effective legislator…who cared deeply about…the people of Iowa.”

Avenson steered the Groundwater Protection Act through the legislature in 1987 as well as a bill that dramatically reorganized the executive branch of state government. Avenson was an avid outdoorsman and a voracious reader of non-fiction. Several years ago, Avenson tracked down every book about the Lewis and Clark Expedition that was still available in print and he read each one.

Avenson is the father of three adult children as well as grandchildren. He and his wife Diane were married in 1964 and have made their home in Oelwein. He joined the family business after college and became president of Oelwein Tool and Die Company in 1984.

(Radio Iowa)