As another year ends, the Business Record recognizes and honors the members of the Central Iowa business community – and some of the notables who influenced it from the outside – who passed away in the past 12 months. Here are remembrances of a few.

Ed Campbell served as chair of the Iowa Democratic Party from 1977 to 1982. He entered politics as a special assistant on the staff of Gov. Harold Hughes in 1965, and when Hughes was elected to the U.S. Senate, Campbell joined his staff in Washington, D.C. He also managed the successful Senate campaign of John Culver.

Robert Dee came to Des Moines in 1959 from his native Pittsburgh and became president and CEO of Holmes Murphy & Associates Inc. He also served as chair of United Way of Central Iowa, president of the board of the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines and president of the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce Federation.

Allen Essman co-founded the Essman/Associates marketing and communication firm with his wife, Denise, in 1977. He served the company as chairman and creative director. Essman was a member of Advertising Professionals of Des Moines for nearly 40 years and chaired publicity committees for a number of service organizations.

Charles “Chick” Herbert founded a Des Moines architectural firm that evolved into Herbert Lewis Kruse Blunck Architecture, which received the National American Institute of Architects Firm of the Year Award in 2001. Herbert served in the U.S. Navy as a young man and then enrolled at Iowa State University. He lettered in basketball en route to a degree in architectural engineering.

Ron Lamb joined Casey’s General Stores Inc. in 1970 as a store manager and rose through the ranks to become president, CEO and finally chairman of the board. He presided over a time of great growth in the company. Lamb grew up in Mount Ayr and served in the U.S. Navy.

Sister Stella Neill founded Anawim Housing, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing permanent rental homes for low-income families, in 1987. She was a member of the Sisters of Mercy religious order and served as executive director of Anawim until earlier this year. The organization owns and manages more than 450 residential units and has spent $12 million on housing since it began operations.

Mary Jane Odell had a successful career in local television and capped it with a post in state government. The Algona native was with KRNT-TV, now KCCI, when it began broadcasting in 1955. She hosted daytime interview shows in Des Moines and later in Chicago. When she returned to Des Moines, she joined Iowa Public Broadcasting Network, now Iowa Public Television. She served for several years as Iowa secretary of state.

Dick Pigott worked for 50 years at Pigott Inc., the office equipment company founded by his father. He was a Des Moines native and attended Roosevelt High School.

John Ruan started his career with one truck, hauling gravel. In the end, he owned Ruan Transportation Management Systems – a nationwide operation with more than 8,000 trucks – and Bankers Trust Co., too. Ruan was instrumental in the rebuilding of downtown Des Moines. He developed the Ruan Center, Two Ruan Center and the Des Moines Marriott Downtown, and played a lead role in creating the city’s skywalk system. In 1990, he took over the sponsorship of the World Food Prize, and later pledged $5 million toward creating a home for the organization in the former downtown public library.

Feisal Sayeed was a vice president and senior broker associate at CB Richard Ellis/Hubbell Commercial. He helped raise money to build the current Science Center of Iowa and also served on the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Central Iowa.

Jack Shelley had a distinctive voice and delivery that became a familiar part of life for Iowans and others during a long broadcasting career. The Boone native joined WHO radio in 1935 and served as news director from 1940 until 1965, adding television to his responsibilities in the 1950s. He reported from both Europe and the Pacific Ocean during World War II. Shelley taught journalism at Iowa State University from 1965 until 1982.

Jack Trabert joined ITAGroup Inc. in 1969 as an executive vice president and was named president and CEO of the company in 1971. He retired from that position in 1995. Trabert served his community through his work with the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the Des Moines Development Committee, Special Olympics and other organizations.

Wefel “W.W.” Warner worked at Merchants Bonding Co., the company his father founded, for more than 60 years. He joined the Army in 1942 and served overseas in World War II. He was named president of Merchants in 1962 and oversaw its steady expansion. He was named chairman of the board in 1985.

Bob Wright Sr. received his law degree from Drake University in 1954, left the Des Moines police force the following year and opened his own law firm. He practiced law for the next 50 years, becoming known as “Mr. Civil Rights” for his efforts to defend and support equal treatment under the law.