David A. Dancer was born in Lamoni, Iowa, where he attended public schools and Graceland College. He later attended the University of Washington and the University of Iowa, from which he graduated. He served two years in the US Army during World War I before returning to farming and raising livestock. In 1917 he married Florence Messerli of West Union. They had four daughters. David Dancer served four terms as a representative of Decatur County to the Iowa General Assembly. He served as Executive Secretary to the State Board of Regents from 1942 through 1967. He also served as Director of Alumni Relations for the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery in Des Moines. He died October 11, 1982, in Sun City, Arizona. He was survived by his wife, Florence; three daughters, Alice White of Sun City, JoAnn Stone of Backus, Minnesota, and Jane Pitkin of Austin, Texas; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Compiled by Library Assistant Susan Witthoft; edited by University Archivist Gerald L. Peterson Special Collections and University Archives January 1996
