Former Cedar Rapids Mayor Frank Bosh Passes Away

By Rick Smith, Reporter

Tools

By Aaron Hepker

Story Created: Jan 27, 2012 at 4:32 PM CST

Story Updated: Jan 27, 2012 at 4:32 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The city now has lost three former mayors in less than three years.

Frank A. Bosh, 88, who served as the city’s mayor in 1968 and part of 1969, died in his sleep on Jan. 22 in Prescott, Ariz., his family reports.

Bosh’s mayoral successor and Cedar Rapids’ longest serving mayor, Don Canney, died in March 2011 at age 80, while Bosh’s predecessor, Robert M.L. Johnson, died in April 2009 at age 88.

Bosh was born in LaGrange, Ill., in 1923 and came to Cedar Rapids in 1940 to attend Coe College. He graduated from Coe College in 1947 after serving in the Army during World War II.

Bosh served as a City Council member and public safety commissioner from 1962 through 1967 and then was elected mayor and served in the capacity in 1968 and part of 1969. He left office in 1969 and moved to Arizona, hoping the dry climate would relieve his rheumatoid arthritis, he said during an interview with The Gazette in 2002.

Wayne Murdock, who was the city’s public works director during Bosh’s time at Cedar Rapids City Hall and then later served as the city’s street commissioner and a City Council member, on Friday said Bosh was “very personable” and “was good for Cedar Rapids.” Bosh came back to Cedar Rapids from time to time after leaving for an annual get-together of former city commissioners and other city officials, Murdock said.

Conversation Guidelines

Be Kind

Don't use abusive, offensive, threatening, racist, vulgar or sexually-oriented language.
Don't attack someone personally. Keep it civil and be responsible.

Share Knowledge

Be truthful. Share what you know and what you are passionate about.
What more do you want to learn? Keep it simple.

Stay focused

Promote lively and healthy debate. Stay on topic. Ask questions and give feedback on the story's topic.

Report Trouble

Help us maintain a quality comment section by reporting comments that are offensive. If you see a comment that is offensive, or you feel violates our guidelines, simply click on the "x" to the far right of the comment to report it.


read the full guidelines here »

Commenting will be disabled on stories dealing with the following subject matter: Violent crime, sexual abuse, Amber Alerts, Operation Quickfinds and suicides.

More Good Stuff

What's On KCRG