Ex-Iowa Senate GOP Leader Cal Hultman dies at 76; remembered for helping others

Former Iowa Senate Majority Leader Calvin Hultman, who died last week after a brief illness at age 76, is being recalled as a good person who used his leadership skills in his public and private life to help other Iowans.

Hultman, a Republican, died Thursday, only about two days after being diagnosed with cancer, said his son, Calvin Hultman II of Des Moines. His father had complained of hip pain and he apparently had cancer for a while that had spread through his body. He had lived for the past two years in McKinney, Texas, which is near Dallas.

"He was a quiet, gentle giant whose compassion for people and belief in second chances made a difference in the lives of many. He was a friend and a mentor and someone who I will miss dearly," said Gov. Kim Reynolds, a fellow Republican from southern Iowa.

 Hultman was a graduate of Iowa State University who grew up in Stanton and was an aide to former U.S. Rep. William Scherle. He resided in Red Oak when he was elected to the Iowa Senate in 1972, representing a legislative district in southwest Iowa.  He served 18 years in the Legislature, including 10 years as Senate minority leader and four years as Senate majority leader.  

In 1972, Hultman was honored as the Jaycees outstanding young man in Iowa. In 1981, he was named one of the top 10 Republican legislative leaders nationally. 

Hultman later became a legislative lobbyist at the Iowa Capitol and was deeply involved in Alcoholics Anonymous, helping to counsel people with substance abuse addictions. He also had a key role at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, where he served as the first congregational president in the early 1990s.

Former Iowa House Majority Leader Jerry Fitzgerald, a Fort Dodge Democrat, served with Hultman in the Legislature in the 1970s. He later knew Hultman when they both worked as lobbyists. 

"He was a good guy. I liked him. He was clearly very, very generous with his time in trying to help others," Fitzgerald said.

Former state Rep. Scott Newhard, a Democrat who arrived in the Iowa House at the same time Hultman was elected to the Senate, said Hultman earned his admiration as a legislator and in other avenues of his life. 

"He was an extremely effective leader, both as minority leader and majority leader because he worked very closely on process with whomever was the other leader," Newhard said.  "They would argue back and forth over policy, but they each had great respect for each other."

Newhard now works as a legislative lobbyist and he said he was well aware of the deep commitment that Hultman had for Iowans who sought help from Alcoholics Anonymous.

"In his public service and in his lobbying career, Cal had an opportunity to impact lives. With his role in Alcoholics Anonymous he saved lives," Newhard said.

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Red Oak, said that Hultman had attended her church in Stanton before he moved away, and while they didn’t attend the church at the same time, they had many common friends and stories that they shared over the years.

When Ernst served in the Iowa Senate, she said she would often have morning coffee at the Iowa Capitol with then-lobbyist Hultman before the daily session of the Legislature convened. 

"Cal would lay out exactly what he thought would happen legislatively throughout the day, and 99 percent of the time, he would be right! He was a great friend and mentor and will be missed by so many," Ernst said.

Survivors include Hultman's wife, Mary; sons, Calvin II, Dan, and Chris; daughters-in-law, Emily and Victoria; and six grandchildren.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Lutheran Church of Hope, 925 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines. Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at  the church.  The family has designated Lutheran Church of Hope for memorial contributions.