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.
Read more about this topic: John Henry Kyl
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