by Lissa Blake
When Postville’s Dave Koopman heard the news that George H.W. Bush had passed away, he reflected on his own personal memories of the man who would come to be the 41st President of the United States.
Koopman, a retired school guidance counselor and former chair of the Allamakee County Republican Central Committee, recounted events in late 1987 through 1989 where he had personal contact with “Bush 41,” as he was sometimes called, to differentiate him from his son, George W. Bush, the nation’s 43rd president.
“In 1987, there were several Republicans besides Bush who wanted to be president,” remembered Koopman.
Allamakee County hosted an event for Jack Kemp and Pete du Pont in July of 1987, and the Central Committee decided to invite the elder Bush, who was serving as Vice President to Ronald Reagan at the time.