Read the full stored bill text
House
Resolution
19
-
Introduced
HOUSE
RESOLUTION
NO.
19
BY
LOHSE
,
GUSTOFF
,
BODEN
,
and
BAGNIEWSKI
A
Resolution
honoring
the
life
and
legacy
of
Jay
Byers
1
for
his
exemplary
leadership,
dedicated
public
2
service,
and
transformative
impact
on
the
state
of
3
Iowa.
4
WHEREAS,
the
state
of
Iowa
mourns
the
unexpected
5
passing
of
Jay
Byers
on
April
17,
2025,
a
beloved
6
leader,
public
servant,
and
visionary
whose
life
7
was
marked
by
an
unwavering
commitment
to
community,
8
economic
growth,
and
education;
and
9
WHEREAS,
Mr.
Byers
had
served
as
President
of
10
Simpson
College
since
July
2023,
where
he
brought
a
11
renewed
vision
and
spirit
to
the
institution,
achieving
12
the
highest
first-year
student
enrollment
in
a
decade,
13
increasing
first-year
student
retention
by
5
percent,
14
and
overseeing
the
completion
of
the
Dunn
Library
15
renovation;
and
16
WHEREAS,
Mr.
Byers’
relationship
with
Simpson
17
College
spanned
decades,
having
earned
his
bachelor’s
18
degree
there
in
1993,
served
on
the
Board
of
Trustees
19
for
11
years,
and
taught
as
an
adjunct
professor
of
20
political
science,
demonstrating
his
deep
commitment
to
21
higher
education
and
to
the
college
community;
and
22
WHEREAS,
Mr.
Byers
previously
served
as
President
23
and
CEO
of
the
Greater
Des
Moines
Partnership
from
24
2011
to
2023,
leading
one
of
the
nation’s
largest
25
regional
chambers
of
commerce,
expanding
its
reach
to
26
11
counties,
24
affiliate
chambers
of
commerce,
more
27
than
6,500
members,
and
400
investors;
and
28
-1-
LSB
2996YH
(3)
91
ss/jh
1/
3
H.R.
19
WHEREAS,
during
his
tenure,
greater
Des
Moines
1
emerged
as
the
fastest-growing
major
metropolitan
2
area
in
the
midwest
in
population,
gross
domestic
3
product,
and
job
growth,
while
launching
major
regional
4
initiatives
including
the
Hilton
Convention
Center
5
Hotel,
Capital
Crossroads
vision
plans,
Lauridsen
6
Skatepark,
ICON
Water
Trails,
and
the
Des
Moines
7
International
Airport
new
terminal
project;
and
8
WHEREAS,
Mr.
Byers
also
served
the
public
as
9
District
Director
for
United
States
Congressman
10
Leonard
Boswell,
practiced
law
at
Ice
Miller,
LLP,
and
11
provided
influential
leadership
on
the
national
and
12
international
stage
through
his
roles
as
chair
of
the
13
Association
of
Chamber
of
Commerce
Executives,
chair
of
14
the
Iowa
Chamber
Alliance,
member
of
the
United
States
15
Chamber
of
Commerce
Committee
of
100,
and
United
States
16
Representative
to
the
International
Chamber
of
Commerce
17
World
Chambers
Federation
General
Council;
and
18
WHEREAS,
his
commitment
to
civic
and
nonprofit
19
service
included
board
leadership
with
the
Iowa
20
Economic
Development
Authority,
Capital
Crossroads,
21
Catch
Des
Moines,
ICON
Water
Trails,
Blank
Park
Zoo
22
Foundation,
ChildServe,
and
many
others,
demonstrating
23
his
dedication
to
strengthening
both
the
business
and
24
social
fabric
of
Iowa;
and
25
WHEREAS,
Mr.
Byers
was
the
recipient
of
numerous
26
honors,
including
the
Association
of
Chamber
of
27
Commerce
Executives
Life
Member
Award,
Iowa
Character
28
Champion
Award,
Simpson
College
Alumni
Achievement
29
Award,
and
consistent
recognition
as
one
of
the
most
30
-2-
LSB
2996YH
(3)
91
ss/jh
2/
3
H.R.
19
influential
business
leaders
in
Des
Moines;
and
1
WHEREAS,
Mr.
Byers
was
a
devoted
husband
to
his
wife
2
of
26
years,
Katie,
a
loving
father
to
daughters
Sophie
3
and
Charlotte,
and
a
man
known
for
his
musical
talent,
4
sense
of
humor,
dad
jokes,
Halloween
costumes,
love
of
5
community,
working
hard,
living
big,
and
the
positive
6
energy
he
brought
to
every
endeavor;
and
7
WHEREAS,
his
legacy
as
a
futurist,
mentor,
strategic
8
thinker,
and
transformational
leader
has
left
an
9
enduring
impact
on
Iowa’s
economic
development,
10
educational
institutions,
and
civic
life;
NOW
11
THEREFORE,
12
BE
IT
RESOLVED
BY
THE
HOUSE
OF
REPRESENTATIVES,
That
13
the
House
of
Representatives
honors
and
celebrates
the
14
life
of
Jay
Byers,
expresses
its
deepest
sympathy
to
15
his
family,
friends,
and
colleagues,
and
recognizes
16
with
gratitude
the
profound
and
lasting
contributions
17
he
made
to
Simpson
College,
greater
Des
Moines,
and
the
18
state
of
Iowa.
19
-3-
LSB
2996YH
(3)
91
ss/jh
3/
3