Boswell, Leonard Leroy

BOSWELL

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 6/28/2019 at 03:29:22

BIOGRAPHY of LEONARD LEROY BOSWELL
Graceland University, Lamoni, Decatur County, Iowa

Leonard Leroy Boswell was born on January 10, 1934 in Harrison County, Missouri [the son of Melvin and Margaret Boswell].

Leonard was the third Graceland alumnus to become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the only one to do so while also serving on the college's Board of Trustees. Boswell graduated Lamoni High School in 1952 and from Graceland in 1955 and returned to the college in the 1960's to complete his bachelor's degree in business administration.

Boswell's service to his country began when he was drafted as a private in the U.S. Army where he served for 20 years and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He completed two NATO tours in Europe, putting in four years in Germany and three years in Portugal. He also served two one-year tours in Vietnam. He was decorated with two Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Bronze Stars [along with the Soldier's Medal]. He taught at the Army Command and General Staff College.

Boswell's political career began in 1984 upon his election as a Democrat to the Iowa Senate, where he served two terms [1993-1996] as its president. There, he was instrumental in increasing the Iowa Tuition Grant Appropriation for small private colleges in the state [the largest increase in college aid since the GI Bill].

He joined the Graceland College Board of Trustees in 1990 and was elected to the open seat in Iowa's Third Congressional District (which includes Lamoni) on November 4, 1996. [He left Congress in January of 2013.] Throughout his political career, Boswell has continued to manage his livestock farm near Davis City, Iowa.

Boswell's term on Graceland's Board of Trustees expires in 2016.

Boswell married his wife Doty in 1956. The couple are the parents of three children.

At about 10:45 p.m. on July 16 of 2011, Boswell and his family were victims of a home invasion. Fortunately, no one was injured.

SOURCES:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Boswell
bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=b000652
Goehner, David. “The Graceland College Book of Knowledge: From A To Z.” p. 394. Herald House. Independence MO. 1997.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2016