Edward J. McManus
Edward Joseph McManus | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Keokuk, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | March 20, 2017 (aged 97) Cedar Rapids, Iowa, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Judge, politician |
| Years active | 1946–2017 |
| Known for | Lieutenant Governor of Iowa; United States District Judge for the Northern District of Iowa |
Edward Joseph McManus (February 9, 1920 – March 20, 2017) was a prominent figure who held the office of Lieutenant Governor of Iowa and dedicated over five decades as a federal judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.
Education and career
A native of Keokuk, Iowa, McManus completed his undergraduate studies with a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Iowa in 1940, followed by earning a Juris Doctor from the same institution's College of Law in 1942. Between 1942 and 1946, he served as a Lieutenant in the United States Naval Reserve. Subsequently, he engaged in private legal practice in Keokuk from 1946 until 1962, during which he also fulfilled the role of Keokuk City Attorney for nine years. As a member of the Democratic Party, he was elected to the Iowa Senate in 1954 and served from 1955 through 1959. In 1958, McManus assumed the position of Lieutenant Governor of Iowa under Governor Herschel C. Loveless, maintaining this role until 1961. He was the Democratic candidate for Governor of Iowa in 1960 but was defeated by Norman A. Erbe. Concurrent with his political engagements, McManus served as President of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Keokuk between 1955 and 1962 and led the 1001 Corporation from 1960 to 1962.
Federal judicial service
On June 23, 1962, President John F. Kennedy nominated McManus to serve on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, filling the vacancy left by Judge Henry N. Graven. The United States Senate confirmed his appointment on July 13, 1962, and he officially received his commission on July 16, 1962. Prior to assuming his judicial duties, McManus relocated from Keokuk to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He held the position of Chief Judge from his appointment in 1962 until 1985, after which he took on senior status on February 9, 1985. His tenure remains the longest recorded for any federal district court judge within Iowa. McManus passed away at age 97 on March 20, 2017, in Cedar Rapids and was recognized as the longest-serving living federal judge at that time.