Marilyn Staples

Marilyn E. Staples was born in Cleveland, OH, in 1926, to Blanche E. Herron and Morris E. Wright. She was happily married to L.F. Staples, MD for 72 years. She was mother to Alan H. (Susan D.), Bruce H. (Sue K.), and Mary (Michael H.). Though she strongly desired to be educated as an engineer, she received her B.S. in chemistry and math from the University of New Hampshire, where she later taught as an instructor. She also was employed by the Iowa Department of Agriculture, the University of Iowa’s Pediatric Chemistry Lab, and Marquette Cement Mfg.

When she retired from her professional life in the late 1950s, she turned her attention to improving life for others as a volunteer, touching on such diverse issues as health (Broadlawns and Blank Guild, Iowa Children’s and Family Services, and the Commission for the Blind), housing (co-founder of the Des Moines Housing Council and sitting on many of its committees for over two decades and through her countless time with the League of Women Voters), and education (PTA for 14 years, numerous boards and committees dedicated to improving and creating school infrastructure and the bonds that would achieve the same, and intercultural matters, extensive work for Grandview University on their Board of Directors and numerous committees, working with Evelyn Davis in various roles at Tiny Tot Day Care, Supervisor for VBS at St. John’s Lutheran Church downtown in dealing with 400+ children).

Decades of her time was devoted to the League of Women Voters in Des Moines. She worked through their good office, sometimes in elected roles, and other times as a researcher on her many passions such as affordable housing, local government, social policies, tax base sharing, and so much more.

She was always passionate about the environment and, in addition to being a generous donor to many organizations, she worked on City of Des Moines environmental committees, extensive work with Polk County Parks Department, Fleur Dr. Development Committee, Gateway (east and west) projects, and Brody Park Project. She gave 20 years to sitting on the Planning and Zoning Commission and sat on numerous committees for that organization. She gave her time to clean water and land use issues, the Chamber of Commerce, the Mid City Business Association, and the United Way. She served the Mayor’s office in many capacities as a volunteer and was proud of her work on the Mayor’s Select Committee on Tax Disparities.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her mother and father, her husband, and her son, Bruce H. Staples. She is survived by her devoted children Alan and Mary Staples (Said). Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be sent in her honor to Iowa Public Radio, The Food Bank of Iowa, and/or the Iowa Natural Heritage.

Her many honors and awards are as follows:

• Des Moines Education Association: for outstanding contribution to education. May 23, 1974
• Grand View College: Presented to Marilyn E. Staples in appreciation for Dedicated Service on the Grand View College Board of Trustees. 1976 - 1990
• Des Moines Housing Council, Inc.: Presented to Marilyn E Staples, Past President, in recognition of her outstanding efforts and support, which contributed immeasurably to the success of their organization. 1987
• Iowa Commission on the Status of Women: to recognize and honor outstanding achievements by women of Iowa - Marilyn E. Staples was received with celebration into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame. August 28, 1991
• Grand View College, Des Moines, Iowa: By the authority of the Board of Trustees of Grand View College, the College hereby conferred upon Marilyn E. Staples the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. April 5, 1992
• Polk - Des Moines Tax Payers Association: Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of 15 years of involvement in the Association and for her personal dedication to the citizens of Central Iowa and the professional advancement of governmental research. January 28, 2000
• City of Des Moines: for 14 years and 9 months of loyal service as Plan and Zoning Commissioner for the Community Development Department, showing continuous and devoted service toward the goal of an improved city of Des Moines. November 3, 2005
• City of Des Moines: for 24 years of loyal service as Plan and Zoning Commissioner for the Community Development Department showing continuous and devoted service toward the goal of an improved City of Des Moines. November 3, 2005
• Key to the City of Des Moines, Iowa: presented to Marilyn Staples with sincere appreciation for her many years of service to the citizens of Des Moines - Mayor T. M. Franklin Cownie
• Council Members: Archie Brooks, Christopher Coleman, Michael Kieran, Christine Hensley, Robert Mahaffey, Tom Vlassis. November 21, 2005
• League of Women Voters of United States: Certificate of Recognition presented to Marilyn Staples of the League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Des Moines, Iowa for her fifty year membership in the League. April 30, 2016.

Marilyn’s impressive résumé:

Education:
• B.S. in math/chemistry, University New Hampshire, 1948

Employment:
• Pratt Whitney Aircraft, 1944 - 45, engineering
• University of New Hampshire Instructor, chemistry, 1948 - 50
• Stated of Iowa Department of Agriculture, 1950 - 51
• Marquette Cement Mfg. Co., 1951 - 52, Research lab
• University of Iowa, Pediatric Chemistry 1952 - 56, 1957 - 58

Civic Activities:
• Blank Hospital Guild, Southside Chairman of fund drives 1962 - 63
• PTAs at Hoak, Jefferson, and Brody 1962 - 76 in various elected capacities
• St. John’s Lutheran Church Vacation Bible School Supervisor, 1969 - 75 (400 enrollees, including Tiny Tot Day Care and St. Paul’s AME Church.
• SW Citizens for Community Improvement, 1970 - 76
• Des Moines Independent School District Study Committees: 1968 School Facilities Committee; 1969 School Bond Committee, PR Chairman; 1970 Building Specifications Committee, McCombs and Jefferson; 1971 Intercultural Affairs Committee; 1972 Physical Ed/Health/Safety in high schools; 1973 Future Needs in South Des Moines, Junior High Committee
• Community Services Inc., Post-Report Study Committee 1973 - 74
• Iowa Children & Family Services, Board Member 1974 - 79
• Chair, adolescent transitional living Committee.
• United Way Self-Study Committee, 1975
• Clean Water Act of 1972
• Technical Committee and Citizens’ Advisory Committee 1975 - 81 (Waste Water Management)
• Polk County Social Services Congresses 1976, 77 and78
• Neighborhood Housing Services Budget Committee, 1977
• Governor’s Ad Hoc Committee to Review the Operation of the Iowa Commission for the Blind 1978
• Public Services Research, Inc. Board of Directors 1978 - 81
• Des Moines Housing Council: co-founder, 1977; President, 1980 - 82, 1986 – 89; board member continuously through 1993.
• Polk County Land Use Advisory Committee, 1986 - 88
• Mayor’s Housing Task Force, 1980 - 88
• Chamber of Commerce Federation, Board of Directors, 1982 - 89
• Mid City Business Association, 1982 - 89
• Polk County Economy Study Committee, 1982
• Iowa Coordinating Council for Post High School Education, 1984 - 89
• Iowa Child Care Training Project, 1985
• Broadlawns Medical Center, Long Range Health Care Training Project, 1985
• Grand View College, Board of Directors, 1974 - 90
• Educational Affairs Committee, Chair 1989 - 90
• Planning Committee Education Advisory Committee, 1988 - 92
• Broadlawns Medical Center Advisory Task Force, 1993
• Fleur Drive Development Committee, 1997 - 2004
• Mayor’s Select Committee on Tax Disparities 1998 - 2000
• Focus Committee on Regional Services
• Steering Committee
• Action Committee
• Brody Park Committee 1999 - 2005
• City of Des Moines Environmental Committees in 2000’s
• Urban Conservation
• Growing Green Committees
• Mayor Energy Task Force
• Parks Department
• Urban Conservation Committee 2004 - 2014
• Des Moines Plan and Zoning Commission, 1986 - 2005
• Growth Issues Committee
• Transportation Committee
• Neighborhood Revitalization Committee Chair
• Comprehensive Land Use Committee
• Gateway West Steering Committee
• Gray’s Lake Master Plan Committee
• MLK Jr Parkway Task Force
• MLK Jr Parkway Committee
• Strategic Planning Commission
• Capital Improvements Program Committee
• Southeast Area Master Plan, Zoning Ordinance
• League of Women Voters of Metro Des Moines 1972 – 99: Treasurer, 1972 – 74; President, 1974 - 76, 1988 – 90; Board member nearly continuously
• Chaired Committees on local government, social policy, land use
• Broadlawns Medical Center: tax-base sharing, housing and more
• Co-chaired Metropolitan Government Conference, 1974
• 1998 - 99 Board Member, wrote paper on Annexation
• Polk Des Moines Taxpayers Association Board 1989 - 2005
• City, County, Government Committees

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