Mayor Donald Anciaux, 1950s-1960s

Donald J. Anciaux was elected Mayor of Coralville in the first November election for the 1954-1955 term. He continued to serve through 1957, when Rodney Bidlack was elected for the 1958-1959 term. Mayor Anciaux was reappointed after Mayor Bidlack resigned in August of 1958 and continued to serve until 1961. He was employed by the Economy Advertising Company in Iowa City as a Pressroom Foreman.

During Anciaux's time in office, many advances in community recreation took place. The first recreation commission was appointed, baseball teams such as Little League was formed, a Recreation Center was founded in an old school building, Central Park and a summer playground were established, and the first recreation director, Earl Dennler, was hired. Also significant was the establishment of the first full time police force.

Anciaux was born on March 3, 1918 to James and Marie (Meyers) Anciaux in Iowa City, Iowa. He married Rufine Berning (b. February 21, 1922) on September 30, 1946. They moved to Coralville that same year and had four children. Donald died in August of 1992; Rufine passed on in September of 2007 (Lovetinsky et al., p. 79; Ancestry Library).

Coralville Public Library. Coralville Digital History Library.

1950s-1960s

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Coralville, Iowa