Albert C. Willford
Encyclopedia
Albert Clinton Willford was a Democratic U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 3rd congressional district
and supporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt
's "New Deal
." He was elected in 1932, defeated in 1934, and failed to regain his seat in 1936.
Born in Vinton, Iowa
, Willford attended the country and town schools, and Tilford's Academy, in Vinton. He was employed as chief engineer of the electric light, power, and water company at Vinton from 1900 to 1907. He moved to Waterloo, Iowa
, in 1907 and engaged in the manufacture of ice until 1910, when he engaged in the seed, feed, and coal
business.
Before running for Congress he served as a trustee of the Waterloo Public Library (1918–1930), a member of the Black Hawk County Jury Commission (1922–1924), the president of the Iowa Stationary Engineers Association, the president of the Iowa Chapter of the Izaak Walton League (1927–1929), and the president of the Waterloo Baseball Club (1923–1927).
Willford was the third Democrat elected in Iowa's 3rd congressional district since its creation in 1860. He was elected as part of Roosevelt's 1932 landslide, defeating a five-term incumbent congressman, Republican Thomas J. B. Robinson
.
Willford served in Congress from March 4, 1933 to January 3, 1935. Like the two earlier Democrats from his district, he was not re-elected to a second term. He was defeated by Republican John W. Gwynne
in 1934, and then resumed his former pursuits in Waterloo. He lost an attempt in 1936 to regain his seat.
Another Democrat would not win election in the 3rd district until 1986, when David R. Nagle
won election to an open seat created by the retirement of T. Cooper Evans
. Nagle would become the first Democrat from the district to serve more than one term.
Willford died on March 10, 1937, shortly after his failed bid to regain his seat. He was interred in Memorial Park Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa's 3rd congressional district
Iowa's 3rd congressional district
Iowa's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that currently covers an area from Des Moines to the western outskirts of the Cedar Falls-Waterloo Metropolitan Area to the western outskirts of the Cedar Rapids area and to Lucas and Monroe counties .The...
and supporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
's "New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
." He was elected in 1932, defeated in 1934, and failed to regain his seat in 1936.
Born in Vinton, Iowa
Vinton, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 5,257 in the city, with a population density of . There were 2,299 housing units, of which 2,187 were occupied....
, Willford attended the country and town schools, and Tilford's Academy, in Vinton. He was employed as chief engineer of the electric light, power, and water company at Vinton from 1900 to 1907. He moved to Waterloo, Iowa
Waterloo, Iowa
Waterloo is a city in and the county seat of Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the population decreased by 0.5% to 68,406. Waterloo is part of the Waterloo – Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the more populous of the two...
, in 1907 and engaged in the manufacture of ice until 1910, when he engaged in the seed, feed, and coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
business.
Before running for Congress he served as a trustee of the Waterloo Public Library (1918–1930), a member of the Black Hawk County Jury Commission (1922–1924), the president of the Iowa Stationary Engineers Association, the president of the Iowa Chapter of the Izaak Walton League (1927–1929), and the president of the Waterloo Baseball Club (1923–1927).
Willford was the third Democrat elected in Iowa's 3rd congressional district since its creation in 1860. He was elected as part of Roosevelt's 1932 landslide, defeating a five-term incumbent congressman, Republican Thomas J. B. Robinson
Thomas J. B. Robinson
Thomas John Bright Robinson was a Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's 3rd congressional district. Elected in an era in which Republicans held every Iowa U.S. House seat, Robinson served five terms before losing in the 1932 general election.Born in New Diggings, Wisconsin, Robinson moved...
.
Willford served in Congress from March 4, 1933 to January 3, 1935. Like the two earlier Democrats from his district, he was not re-elected to a second term. He was defeated by Republican John W. Gwynne
John W. Gwynne
John Williams Gwynne was a seven-term Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's 3rd congressional district, and a Federal Trade Commission member and chairman during the Eisenhower Administration.- Personal background :...
in 1934, and then resumed his former pursuits in Waterloo. He lost an attempt in 1936 to regain his seat.
Another Democrat would not win election in the 3rd district until 1986, when David R. Nagle
David R. Nagle
David R. Nagle in Grinnell, Iowa was a Representative in the United States House of Representatives, representing Iowa's 3rd congressional district from 1987 to 1993. Nagle is a member of the Democratic Party....
won election to an open seat created by the retirement of T. Cooper Evans
T. Cooper Evans
Thomas Cooper Evans was a three-term Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's 3rd congressional district...
. Nagle would become the first Democrat from the district to serve more than one term.
Willford died on March 10, 1937, shortly after his failed bid to regain his seat. He was interred in Memorial Park Cemetery.