The document provides details about the 2020 Hall of Fame induction ceremony for the Johnson County Democrats. It will honor Rep. Dave and Terry Loebsack, volunteer of the year Leah Jesse, activist John Deeth, and activist group of the year Potluck Insurgency. The event will take place on July 18, 2020 as a live online program featuring recognition, speeches, and remarks from honorees and past inductees. It lists the event sponsors and past Hall of Fame honorees.

2. Johnson County Democrats
2020 Hall of Fame
Rep. Dave & Terry Loebsack
Leah Jesse • John Deeth • Potluck Insurgency
July 18, 2020 • 7:00 p.m. • Live Online
Honoring

3. Inductees
2020 HALL OF FAME
Congressman Dave &
Terry Loebsack

4. Honorees
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Leah Jesse
ABOVE AND BEYOND
John Deeth
ACTIVIST GROUP OF THE YEAR
Potluck Insurgency

5. Program
Recognition
National Anthem
Welcome
Introductions
Presentation of Honors
Remarks
Remarks
Remarks
Inductee Remarks
Closing Remarks
Sponsors and Past Hall of Fame Honorees
Johnson County Affirmative Action Chair Tony Currin
Johnson County Democratic Party Chair Ed Cranston
Johnson County Supervisor Rod Sullivan
Johnson County Democratic Party Chair Ed Cranston
Candidate for U.S. Senate Theresa Greenfield
Candidate for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District Rita Hart
2014 JCDems Hall of Fame Honoree David Osterberg
U.S. Representative Dave and Terry Loebsack
Johnson County Democratic Party Chair Ed Cranston
7:00 p.m.
6:45 p.m.
Roscoe PorchMusic

6. Sponsors
Platinum
Margaret Nelson
$1,000
IBEW • Dick & Doris Myers
State Senator Zach Wahls
$500

7. Sponsors
Gold
Pat Bauer & Chris Luzzie • Iowa City Council Member
Laura & Nick Bergus • State Senator Joe Bolkcom • Sydny
& Jim Conger • Meghann Foster & Nick Westergaard
Iowa City Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
State Representative Dave & Lynette Jacoby • John &
Claudia Knutson • Jean Lloyd-Jones • State
Representative Mary Mascher • Jim & Mary McCue
State Representative Amy Nielsen • Jack & Nola
Naughton • County Recorder Kim Painter & Jessica
Kardon • Swisher Mayor Chris & Vanessa Taylor
Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague

8. Sponsors
Silver
Thomas Beatty • Christina Bohannan • Joyce
Carman-Baldus • Tom Carsner • Ed & Jane Cranston • Martha
Ann Crawford • Tony Currin • Gerene Denning • Susan Enzle &
Nate Savin • Sandra Eskin • Peter & Eileen Fisher • Kent &
Gretchen Fuller • Peter & Katy Hansen • Barbara Haring
Shawn Harmsen • Johnson County Supervisor Pat Heiden
Douglas & Beverly Jones •State Senator Kevin & Deb Kinney
Becky & Tim Kresowik •Brad & Julie Kunkel • Tom Larkin
& Joyce Bernardy • David Leshtz • Carol Lyons

9. Sponsors
Silver
Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness • Dorothy
Presson • Johnson County Sheriff Lonny & Julie Pulkrabek
Jacqueline Reger • Johnson County Supervisor Janelle Rettig
& Robin Butler • Rachel & Dan Smith • Jean Stoakes & in
memory of Patrick Hughes • John & Elizabeth Stratton
Johnson County Supervisor Rod Sullivan & Melissa Fath
Iowa City Council Member Janice G. Weiner • Johnson County
Auditor Travis & Abbie Weipert • Wetherill Winder
Bev Wittwer • Marc Wold

10. Dave Loebsack
Dave was born and raised in poverty in Sioux City. After graduating from East High School
in 1970, Dave attended Iowa State University where he earned both a BA and MS in political
science. He then attended the University of California, Davis where he earned his Ph.D.
In 1982, Dave moved back to Iowa take a teaching job at Cornell College. At that time, Dave
met a Cornell professor who was running for the state legislature. That candidate was
David Osterberg. Osterberg won that election and after that Dave was inspired to become
much more involved in Democratic Party politics. Perhaps his greatest honor was
becoming a national delegate for Bill Bradley at the 2000 national convention.
By 2005, Dave had achieved the rank of full professor at Cornell and was ready
to strike out on his own as a candidate for office. But instead of starting out
the local or state level, Dave decided to run for congress in the 2006
election. Against all odds, and the skepticism of those closest to him,
Dave beat a 30-year incumbent in one of the biggest upsets in America.

11. Dave Loebsack
Since that time, Dave has won another six elections and will retire after 14 years in the U.S.
House of Representatives. While some of those elections were closer than desired, Dave and is
team worked tirelessly for the people of the district and earned the respect and support of
folks across the political spectrum. Dave has rightly earned a reputation for his tireless work
and a willingness to listen to constituents everywhere in his district.
Dave has always said that his own background, and the support he received from family,
friends, teachers, and government programs like Social Security, were largely responsible for
the choices Dave has made while in office. For Dave, it has always been about the middle
class and those who work their hearts out to get into the middle class. It has been about
good wages for hard work, affordable health care for all, educational opportunities for
all, and any other policies and programs that will help those who want to achieve the
American dream and are willing and able to work to be successful.
Most of all, as he readies for retirement, Dave wants to thank his family, friends,
and all those who made his successes possible by being patient when he
wasn’t always around and doing the often underrated and unappreciated
things that every politicians needs to succeed.

12. Terry Loebsack
Terry (Peterson) Loebsack was raised and educated in Evergreen Park, Illinois. She graduated
from Western Illinois and immediately began a long and successful career as a second-grade
teacher. Most of her teaching took place in Mount Vernon where she spent 28 years in the
classroom.
Although Terry was not active in politics, Dave says he always enjoyed placing Democratic
yard signs in her strategically located home on Highway 1 on the north side of Mount Vernon.
When they began dating in 1994, it was apparent that they agreed on most of the major issues
of the day, especially given their mutual interest in education.
Terry readily admits that she was as surprised as everyone that Dave won his first race in
2006. However, once he entered Congress, and Terry retired from teaching, she spent
considerable time in Washington, D.C. as well.
Over the years, Terry has been instrumental in Dave’s ability to hold office as
she attended more political events (yes, even parades!) than Dave could have
imagined. For those who know Terry, it probably goes without saying that if
it weren’t for Terry, Dave might very well not have been the success he
has been for 14 years.

13. Leah Jesse
Leah Jesse is a relatively new activist within the Johnson County Democrats, but she
has been a huge asset with her volunteer efforts. She was elected to the Central
Committee in 2016, and quickly became one of our most active members. She has
been elected or appointed to increasingly higher Senior Leadership roles due to her
reliability and dedication to the Democrat mission. Leah and her children, Linus and
Becca, are well-known within local Democratic circles because they coordinate our
involvement and are seen volunteering at all of the events within the county,
including: Pride Fest, Juneteenth, Latino Fest, all the parades within Johnson
County, and the Johnson County Fair. In addition to serving as our Second Vice
Chair and Community Events Committee Chair for the last three years,
Leah served as the Arrangements Chair for the 2018 and 2020 County
Conventions, coordinated with the Finance Chair to make the BBQ
Fundraisers a huge success, and also serves as the Budget
Committee Chair.

14. John Deeth
John Deeth, in his trademark raspberry beret, has had a
hand in organizing the Iowa Caucuses since 2004, and was
the lead caucus organizer for Johnson County in the 2016
and 2020 cycles.
John lives in Iowa City with his wife Koni Steele,
their sons Hayden and Ethan, dog Teddy,
and turtles Ginga and Shelley.

15. Potluck Insurgency
Potluck Insurgency is an active grass-roots
group of activist Democrats who advocate
effectively for Democratic policies at the local,
state, and national levels and provide assistance
on the ground to help elect local, state, and
national Democratic candidates. The Potluck
Insurgency is co-chaired by Roseanne Cook and
Jane Cranston. Learn more about this great
group at potluckinsurgency.org.

16. Roscoe Porch
Roscoe Porch is a life-long Democrat and long-time union member. When he space was
a band director in Clearfield, Corning, and Williamsburg, Iowa, he was a member of the
National Educators Association. Since 1983, he has served as Secretary-Treasurer of the
American Federation of Musicians, Local 450, in Iowa City. While working at the
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, he was an AFSCME member. He performs
professionally on piano and electric bass and also plays trumpet, euphonium, and
trombone. He served 38 years in the Army National Guard, with 32 years in the 34th
Army Iowa National Guard Band in Fairfield. In the 34th Army Band, he was the jazz
band director for 25 years and played Taps for hundreds of military funerals. Other
interests include performing in the Iowa Military Veterans Band, Iowa City
Community Band, Iowa City New Horizons Band, Silver Swing Jazz Band, Smith
Studio Jazz Band, and What Cheer Wind Ensemble. He has been a member
of Veterans For Peace since 2010. Roscoe and his wife Carol have been
married 47 years and have two sons.

17. Past Hall of Fame
Honorees
Ernie & Naomi Dvorsky, Ruth & Sam Becker, Harry & Lucille Seelman,
Bob Burns, Bob & Chris Kemp
Barbara Beaumont, Pat & Bill Sueppel, Gert MacQueen
Minette Doderer, Pat Gilroy
Art & Mary Jo Small
Jean Lloyd-Jones
Gene Spaziani, Mary Anne Madden
Jim Hayes, Jim & Mary McCue, Jackie Blank, Pamela Stewart,
Hanna Weston, George & Miriam Bedell, Ruth Bonfiglio,
Jim & Kathy Clifton, Nancy Swisher
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003

18. Past Hall of Fame
Honorees
Ed & Mary Flaherty
Tom Jacobs, Caroline Dieterle, Chuck & Carol deProsse
Gina & Mae Schatteman
Claudine Harris, Mori Costantino, Verne & Pat Kelley, Dwight & Pat Jensen,
Carol Spaziani, Jean Martin, Edith Hargrove
Ralph & Arlene Neuzil, Jae Retz & Roberta Till-Retz, Dick & Doris Myers
J. Patrick White, Nicholas Johnson & Mary Vasey, Jeanette Carter,
Mary Larew
Lori Bears, Anita Sehr, Joyce Carman, Maureen Donnelly,
Rebecca Reiter
2004
2005
2006
2008
2011
2012
2013

19. Past Hall of Fame
Honorees
Dennis Ryan, Pat Cancilla, Joe Johnston, Carol Thompson, David Osterberg,
Patrick Hughes
Ro Foege, Pat Ikan, Dennis & Robin Roseman, Gary Sanders
Peter & Eileen Fisher, Beverly & Douglas Jones, Pauline Taylor
Sally & Roger Stutsman, Nancy Porter, Tom Larkin & Joyce Bernardy
Bob & Sue Dvorsky
Kurt Friese, Valerie Kemp, Orville & Billie Townsend,
Sarah Swisher & Gary Smith
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019

20. Thank you!