Leslie L. "Les" BOOMHOWER

BOOMHOWER, MCLELAND, HOUSER, COSSLEY, JOHNSON, LYONS

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/17/2012 at 08:21:39

Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
October, 2008

Leslie L. "Les" Boomhower

Leslie L. BOOMHOWER, 88, of Mason City, died Friday (Oct. 24, 2008) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 31, 2008, at St. John's Episcopal Church, 120 First St. N.E.

Upon Les's wishes, his body will be cremated and there will be no visitation. Private family inurnment will be held in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to St. John's Episcopal Church in Les's name.

Leslie L. BOOMHOWER was born on May 25, 1920, in Mason City, Iowa, the son of Leslie Ray and Clara McLELAND BOOMHOWER. He graduated from Mason City High School in 1938. He graduated from Mason City Junior College and attended law school at Drake University. After serving in World War II, he graduated with an LLB degree from the University of Iowa in June of 1944.

Leslie married Jean HOUSER on April 7, 1945, in Mason City. To this union three children were born: Daniel, Susan and Robert.

Les was admitted to the Iowa Bar in June of 1944 and admitted to practice in the Iowa Supreme Court, United States District Court of the Northern District of Iowa, and the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. He also practiced law before the Internal Revenue Service, and the Workman's Compensation and Social Security Board of Review. He practiced law in Mason City from June of 1944 until July 1, 1973, when he was appointed District Associate and Chief Juvenile Judge, until he retired in December 1986. He helped fund the Judicial Retirement System with an improved court cost system, that resulted in capturing millions of dollars in court costs.

Les was instrumental in drafting new uniform traffic schedule violations that were used as a model in other states. He was also instrumental in setting up changes in the law that improved the administration of the Court System. He also assisted in forming the North Iowa Dispute Settlement Center in Cerro Gordo County. After retirement he served as a legal mediator.

He was also founder and president of the Pony of the Americas Club, which is a non-profit breed association established to provide a larger pony for children. A recognized American Horse Shows Association Judge and Steward, he was designated National Horseman of the year in 1969 by Ensminger Horse Science School. He was a member of the American Shetland Pony Club, National Carriage Association, American Driving Society, and the National Hunt and Steeple Chase Society. He was vice-president of the National Livestock Records Association, where he helped set national standards for purebred livestock associations.

He was a member of the SAE Fraternity, president of Delta Theta Law fraternity, member and past president of the Cerro Gordo County Bar Association, member of District 2A Bar Association, Iowa State Bar Association, former member of American Judicature Society, Trial Lawyers Association, American Bar Association and the Iowa District Court Judge's Association. He was also a member of the El Kahir Shrine, 32nd degree Mason, past president of the Cerro Gordo County Humane Society, and member of the Elks Lodge, American Legion.

In his spare time, he attended art classes and spent a lot of time oil painting on canvas. He also wrote a book, "The Shetland Saga," on the history of the Shetland pony in America. He enjoyed traveling, golfing, fishing, and walking with his World War II buddies.

He is survived by his wife, Jean L. BOOMHOWER of Mason City; children, Daniel BOOMHOWER and wife, Cheryl, of Apple Valley, Minn., Susan Faber and husband, Larry, of Ventura, and Robert Boomhower of Concord, Calif.; beloved grandchildren, Dana BOOMHOWER and Sara Faber; cousins; Joy MOYERS, Sander MASON, John McLELAND, and Bill McLELAND; nieces, Judy JOHNSON and Dodie COSSEY; and nephew, Mike LYONS.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, William B. BOOMHOWER; sister, Eleene BOOMHOWER LYONS; and niece, Linda LYONS.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2012