Richard Oswald Eymann | |
---|---|
53rd Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives | |
In office 1973–1974 | |
Preceded by | Bob Smith |
Succeeded by | Philip D. Lang |
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives | |
In office 1961–1964 1969–1975 | |
Constituency | Lane County |
Personal details | |
Born | February 3, 1919 Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada |
Died | September 26, 2005 Springfield, Oregon, U.S. | (aged 86)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Juanita Eymann |
Alma mater | Dartmouth College |
Richard Oswald Eymann (February 3, 1919 – September 26, 2005) was an American businessman and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Alberta, Canada, he served as an airman during World War II and then graduated from Dartmouth College. Eymann moved to Oregon where he would serve as a Democrat in the Oregon House of Representatives, including one session as Speaker.
Richard O. Eymann was born in 1919 in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. [1] After service in the South Pacific Theater during World War II as an airman, he attended Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. [1] He graduated with a master's degree in business administration in 1947 [2] and moved to Springfield, Oregon. [3]
In Oregon, he worked for Weyerhaeuser as an executive at their mill in Springfield. [3] Eymann married Juanita, and they had eight children; Richard, Ramona, Patricia, Carol, Katy, Deborah, Rebecca and Penelope. [3] Eymann would work for the Oregon State Tax Commission as executive secretary before entering politics. [3] He also helped to found McKenzie-Willamette Memorial Hospital in Springfield and was one of the original administrators at Lane Community College, later moving to the neighboring Mohawk Valley. [1]
In 1960, Eymann was elected as a Democrat to serve District 14 and Lane County in the Oregon House of Representatives. [4] He won re-election and served in the 1963 legislature, representing District 13 after reapportionment. [5] He was a delegate to the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. [6]
Eymann returned to the Oregon Legislative Assembly during the 1969 session. [7] He was re-elected in 1970 to the same seat, [8] and was elected again in 1972, but to District 44. [9] During the 1973 session he was elected as Speaker of the House, serving through the 1974 special session of the legislature. [10] He defeated Les AuCoin in the election for the Speakership. [11] During the session he served as Speaker the legislature passed many bills including the Oregon Shield Law, land use planning, and a bill to allow public employees to unionize. [1]
In 1974, Eymann lost his run at re-election to Republican Bill Rogers. [1] In 1986, he attempted to get the Democratic nomination to run against incumbent Bob Packwood for U.S. Senate after the primary winner dropped out, but lost out to Rick Bauman. [12] In 1992, Eymann tried to return to public office, running for Oregon State Treasurer. [13] Eymann won 27% of the vote in the May Democratic primary, losing to Jim Hill who also won in the November general election. [13]
In 1978, he assisted in the establishment of the Emerald People's Utility District, the publicly-owned power company serving the areas surrounding Springfield and Eugene. Eymann served on the board of the organization from founding until 2004. [3] His son Richard C. is an attorney in Spokane, Washington. [14] Daughter Ramona has served as the chief clerk for the Oregon House since 1985, while daughter Katy married Bill Bradbury. [3] Richard O. Eymann died on September 26, 2005, near Springfield at the age of 86. [3]