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Lester Dunn

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Lester Dunn
Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 20th district
In office
January 5, 1937 – January 7, 1941
Preceded byPosition created
Succeeded byC. Petrus Peterson
Member of the Nebraska House of Representatives from the 36th district
In office
January 1, 1935 – January 5, 1937
Preceded bySarah Muir
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born(1890-11-29)November 29, 1890
Atlantic, Iowa
DiedSeptember 7, 1971(1971-09-07) (aged 80)
Lincoln, Nebraska
PartyRepublican
Spouse
Aetna Catkin
​
(m. 1919)​
EducationValparaiso University
University of Nebraska (LL.B.)
OccupationAttorney

Lester Lloyd Dunn (November 29, 1890 – September 7, 1971) was a Republican politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska House of Representatives from the 36th district from 1935 to 1937 and as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 20th district from 1937 to 1941.

Early life

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Dunn was born in Atlantic, Iowa, in 1890, and moved to Nebraska in 1910. He attended Valparaiso University and graduated from the University of Nebraska with his bachelor of laws degree.[1] He was the chief of the bureau of workmen's compensation and served as counsel to the commissioner from 1920 to 1923, and later practiced as an attorney in Lincoln.[1][2]

Nebraska House of Representatives

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In 1934, State Representative Sarah Muir announced that she would seek the Republican nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives from the 1st congressional district,[3] and Dunn ran to succeed her in the Nebraska House of Representatives in the 36th district.[4] He won the Republican primary,[5] and then defeated Democratic nominee John O. Chapman in the general election with 55 percent of the vote.[6]

Nebraska Legislature

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Following the consolidation of the State House and State Senate into the unicameral legislature, Dunn ran to represent the newly created 20th district in 1936. In the nonpartisan primary, he faced civic activist Freda Davis, attorney G. E. Price, and State Representative Henry Obbink.[7] Dunn placed first in the primary, and proceeded to the general election with Obbink.[8] He won the general election by a wide margin, defeating Obbink with 63 percent of the vote.[9]

In 1938, Dunn ran for re-election. He was challenged by furniture company owner Philip Hardy, teacher Julius Humann, attorney O. W. Miller, and insurance broker Charles Sutherland.[2] Dunn placed first in the primary, winning 35 percent of the vote, and proceeded to the general election with Hardy, who placed second with 25 percent.[10] In the general election, Dunn ultimately defeated Hardy.[11]

Dunn declined to seek re-election in 1940.[12]

Lincoln City Council

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In 1944, when Lincoln City Councilman Joe Iverson left his position to serve in the U.S. Army, Dunn was appointed to serve as his temporary replacement.[13] He ended up serving out the remainder of Iverson's term, and ran for a full term in one of the three at-large seats in 1945.[14] Dunn won, placing first in both the primary and general election.[15] Dunn did not seek re-election in 1949.[16]

Death

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Dunn died on September 7, 1971.[17]

References

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  1. 1 2 Nebraska Blue Book 1940 (PDF). Nebraska Legislative Council. 1941. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Biographical Sketches of Primary Candidates". Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star. July 24, 1936. p. A-6, A-7. Retrieved August 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Sarah Muir Enters Congressional Race". Lincoln Evening Journal. June 29, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved August 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Lester Dunn Files". Lincoln Evening Journal. June 13, 1934. p. 3. Retrieved August 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Swanson, Harry R. (1934). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, Held August 14, 1934 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  6. ↑ Swanson, Harry R. (1934). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, General Election, Held November 6, 1934 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Who's Who in the Primary". Omaha World-Herald. April 2, 1936. p. 7. Retrieved August 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Warner, Dunn, Comstock Lead for Unicameral". Lincoln Evening Journal. April 15, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved August 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Nebraska Blue Book 1936 (PDF). Nebraska Legislative Council. 1937. p. 470. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Official Count of Vote is Completed". Lincoln Evening Journal. August 22, 1938. p. 4. Retrieved August 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Republicans to Retain Control at Court House". Nebraska State Journal. Lincoln, Nebraska. November 9, 1938. p. 1. Retrieved August 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Lancaster Is Completely In GOP Column". Lincoln Star. November 6, 1940. p. 9. Retrieved August 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Lester Dunn is councilman". Lincoln Evening Journal. January 31, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved August 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Dunn files for post on council". Lincoln Evening Journal. March 7, 1945. p. 14. Retrieved August 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Prestegaard, Peterson New Council Members; Dunn Again High Man". Lincoln Star. May 2, 1945. p. 7. Retrieved August 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "City Candidates Most in 12 Years". Sunday Journal and Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. March 27, 1949. p. 1. Retrieved August 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "Services Set For Retired Attorney Lester Lloyd Dunn". Lincoln Star. September 8, 1971. p. 28. Retrieved August 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
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