Steven V. Carter
Encyclopedia
Steven V. Carter was a Democratic
U.S. Representative
from south central Iowa
in 1959.
Born in Carterville, Utah, at age fourteen Carter moved with his parents to Lamoni, Iowa
, and graduated from Lamoni High School. He graduated from Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa
, in 1934, the University of Iowa
in 1937, and the University of Iowa College of Law
in 1939.
Admitted to the bar
in 1939, Carter commenced the practice of law in Leon, Iowa
. He served as county attorney of Decatur County, Iowa
from 1940 to 1944, but his tenure ended when he enlisted in the United States Navy
, serving as a supply officer in the South Pacific Theatre in World War II
. After the war, he then served as city attorney
of Leon
from 1946 to 1948.
In 1948, 1950, and 1956, Carter was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for the U.S. House seat held by Karl LeCompte. He formally challenged the outcome of the 1956 election, but in 1958 Congress rejected his challenge. Two years later (in 1958), when LeCompte did not seek re-election, Carter ran again for the House, and won, defeating Republican John Henry Kyl
.
Carter had suffered from cancer before his election to Congress, but believed that he had fully recovered. However, during his first month in Congress doctors determined that the cancer had returned, and he was soon hospitalized. Carter served from January 3, 1959, until his death in Bethesda, Maryland
, on November 4, 1959. Kyl then won a special election to fill the vacancy.
Carter was interred in Leon Cemetery.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from south central Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
in 1959.
Born in Carterville, Utah, at age fourteen Carter moved with his parents to Lamoni, Iowa
Lamoni, Iowa
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,444 people, 818 households, and 428 families residing in the city. The population density was 761.1 people per square mile . There were 904 housing units at an average density of 281.5 per square mile...
, and graduated from Lamoni High School. He graduated from Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa
Lamoni, Iowa
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,444 people, 818 households, and 428 families residing in the city. The population density was 761.1 people per square mile . There were 904 housing units at an average density of 281.5 per square mile...
, in 1934, the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
in 1937, and the University of Iowa College of Law
University of Iowa College of Law
The University of Iowa College of Law is one of the eleven professional graduate schools at the University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, Iowa. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest law school in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River. The law school was ranked as the 27th best law school...
in 1939.
Admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1939, Carter commenced the practice of law in Leon, Iowa
Leon, Iowa
Leon is a city in Decatur County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,983 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Decatur County.The city is located near the Little River Lake Recreation Area...
. He served as county attorney of Decatur County, Iowa
Decatur County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 8,457 in the county, with a population density of . There were 3,834 housing units, of which 3,223 were occupied.-2000 census:...
from 1940 to 1944, but his tenure ended when he enlisted in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, serving as a supply officer in the South Pacific Theatre in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war, he then served as city attorney
City attorney
A city attorney can be an elected or appointed position in city and municipal government in the United States. The city attorney is the attorney representing the city or municipality....
of Leon
Leon, Iowa
Leon is a city in Decatur County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,983 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Decatur County.The city is located near the Little River Lake Recreation Area...
from 1946 to 1948.
In 1948, 1950, and 1956, Carter was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for the U.S. House seat held by Karl LeCompte. He formally challenged the outcome of the 1956 election, but in 1958 Congress rejected his challenge. Two years later (in 1958), when LeCompte did not seek re-election, Carter ran again for the House, and won, defeating Republican John Henry Kyl
John Henry Kyl
John Henry Kyl , was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Iowa. He was the father of Jon Kyl, a Senator from Arizona, the current Senate Minority Whip....
.
Carter had suffered from cancer before his election to Congress, but believed that he had fully recovered. However, during his first month in Congress doctors determined that the cancer had returned, and he was soon hospitalized. Carter served from January 3, 1959, until his death in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
, on November 4, 1959. Kyl then won a special election to fill the vacancy.
Carter was interred in Leon Cemetery.