Judge H. C. Ring

RING, DEVENDORF, SMITH, BARR

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 3/11/2017 at 09:30:00

24 July 1941 - The Tipton Advertiser

Judge H. C. Ring, 71, a district court judge for 11 years and a former member of the Iowa legislature, died of a heart attack at 10:10 p.m. Sunday at his home in Cedar Rapids. Judge Ring had been in court Friday and Saturday morning but became seriously ill Saturday afternoon.

Judge Ring's career was as versatile as it was distinguished. His leadership found expression in public, legal, educational, religious and fraternal fields.

His service as a district judge for the Eighteenth judicial district comprising Jones, Cedar and Linn counties began Nov. 1, 1929 when he was appointed by former Governor John Hammill to fill a vacancy left by the resignation of the late Judge F. L. Anderson of Marion. Since that time the voters of three counties have re-elected Judge Ring three times.

Judge Ring lived through Linn county's growing years. A son of Richard C. and Harriett A. Ring, Linn county pioneers who settled near Cedar Point in the early sixties, he was born on a farm between Center Point and Walker March 21, 1870.

After being graduated from Center Point high school he studied at the University of Iowa, receiving his bachelor of arts degree there in 1893 and his law degree in 1894. He returned to his home community, Center Point, to begin his law practice.

In 1903 Judge Ring was elected clerk of the Linn county district court, serving at Marion. After two terms as clerk he moved from Marion to Cedar Rapids where he practiced law until his elevation to the bench. Since 1915 he had been senior member of the law firm of Ring and Hann.

From 1913-1917 Judge Ring was a member of the lower house of Iowa's legislature from Linn county. He was vice-chairman of the 1913 code commission and served as chairman of the judiciary committee during his second two-year term.

Judge Ring's fraternal interests were wide. In 1910-11 he was grand master of Iowa Odd Fellows. He was also connected with the Knights of Pythias and other lodge bodies and was a past president of the Conopus club. He was a member of the board of trustees of the University of Iowa school of religion. From 1934-37 he instructed local law students in a night class and a number of those who studied under him are now members of the law.

Judge Ring is survived by two sons, David Devendorf, and Dean Merrill, whose mother, the former Nelle Devendorf Smith, died in February, 1932. Judge Ring was married on Thanksgiving day, 1933, to Miss Maude L. Barr of Manchester, who also survives.

The body is at Turner mortuary. Funeral services held in St. Paul's Methodist church at 2 p.m. Wednesday.