Edward Joseph McManus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Edward Joseph McManus
McManus's court portrait
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
In office February 9, 1985 – March 20, 2017
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
In office 1962–1985
Preceded by	Henry Norman Graven
Succeeded by	Donald Eugene O'Brien
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
In office July 16, 1962 – February 9, 1985
Appointed by	John F. Kennedy
Preceded by	Henry Norman Graven
Succeeded by	David R. Hansen
35th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa
In office 1959–1961
Governor	Herschel C. Loveless
Preceded by	William H. Nicholas
Succeeded by	W. L. Mooty
Personal details
Born	Edward Joseph McManus (1920-02-09)February 9, 1920 Keokuk, Iowa
Died	March 20, 2017(2017-03-20) (aged 97) Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Political party	Democratic
Education	University of Iowa (B.A.) University of Iowa College of Law (J.D.)

Edward Joseph McManus was an important person in Iowa. He was born on February 9, 1920, and passed away on March 20, 2017. He served as the Lieutenant Governor of Iowa. He also worked as a United States federal judge for more than 50 years.

Early Life and Public Service

Edward McManus was born in Keokuk, Iowa. He studied at the University of Iowa. In 1940, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then got his law degree in 1942 from the University of Iowa College of Law.

After finishing his studies, he served in the United States Navy Reserve from 1942 to 1946. He was a Lieutenant during this time. After the Navy, he worked as a lawyer in Keokuk from 1946 to 1962. For nine of those years, he was the City Attorney for Keokuk. This meant he helped with the city's legal matters.

In 1954, he was elected to the Iowa Senate. This is where state laws are made. He served there from 1955 to 1959 as a member of the Democratic Party. In 1958, he was elected as the Lieutenant Governor of Iowa. He held this position from 1959 to 1961. He worked with Governor Herschel C. Loveless.

In 1960, he ran for Governor of Iowa. However, he lost the election to Norman A. Erbe. Besides his public service, he was also a businessman. He was the President of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Keokuk from 1955 to 1962. He also led the 1001 Corporation in Keokuk from 1960 to 1962.

A Long Career as a Federal Judge

McManus in the 1950s

McManus in the 1990s

On June 23, 1962, President John F. Kennedy chose Edward McManus to be a federal judge. He would serve on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa. The United States Senate approved his nomination on July 13, 1962. He officially became a judge on July 16, 1962.

When he became a judge, he had to move. He moved from Keokuk to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He served as the Chief Judge for this court from 1962 to 1985. This means he was the main judge in charge.

On February 9, 1985, Judge McManus took on a new role called senior status. This means he continued to work as a judge but with a reduced workload. He served for a very long time. No other federal district court judge in Iowa served longer than he did.

Edward McManus passed away on March 20, 2017, in Cedar Rapids. He was 97 years old. At the time of his death, he was the longest-serving living federal judge in the United States.

See Also

• List of United States federal judges by longevity of service

Sources

• Edward Joseph McManus at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.