John Henry Kyl

This page is about the 20th-century Iowa Congressman; for the 19th-century Mississippi Congressman, see John Kyle; for the former Arizona Senator, see Jon Kyl.

John Henry Kyl
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's 4th district
In office December 15, 1959 – January 3, 1965
Preceded by	Steven V. Carter
Succeeded by	Bert Bandstra
In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1973
Preceded by	Bert Bandstra
Succeeded by	Neal Edward Smith
Personal details
Born	(1919-05-09)May 9, 1919 Wisner, Nebraska
Died	December 23, 2002(2002-12-23) (aged 83) Phoenix, Arizona
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Arlene
Children	Jon Kyl

John Henry Kyl (May 9, 1919 – December 23, 2002) was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Iowa. He was the father of Jon Kyl, a former Senator from Arizona, who served as Senate Minority Whip.

Life and career

Kyl was born in Wisner, Nebraska, the son of Johanna (née Boonstra) and John George Kyl. He graduated from Nebraska State Teachers College (Wayne, Nebraska) and the University of Nebraska. He was a teacher at Nebraska State Teachers College from 1940 to 1950. In the 1950s he moved to Bloomfield, Iowa where he joined his brother George in the clothing business. He also worked as a television journalist for KTVO, in Ottumwa, Iowa.

Kyl ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1958, losing to Democrat Steven V. Carter. However, Carter died on November 4, 1959 after less than one year in office. Kyl then won a special election to fill the vacancy. He continued to serve as the Representative from Iowa's 4th congressional district for two additional terms, but was defeated in the Democratic landslide in 1964. He recaptured his former seat in 1966, and then won re-election in 1968 and 1970. Reapportionment`after the 1970 census put him into the same district as incumbent Democrat Neal Edward Smith, who defeated him in the 1972 election.

He was assistant secretary for congressional and legislative affairs in the Department of the Interior from 1973 to 1977.

He was husband to Arlene Kyl, and he died of complications due to diabetes.

External links

• United States Congress. "John Henry Kyl (id: K000351)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• John Henry Kyl at Find a Grave