Merton L. "Cap" Dierks (July 2, 1932 – October 22, 2021) was an American politician from the state of

Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the southwe ...

. He served in the

Nebraska Legislature The Nebraska Legislature (also called the Unicameral) is the legislature of the U.S. state of Nebraska. The Legislature meets at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln. With 49 members, known as "senators", the Nebraska Legislature is the small ...

from 1987 to 2003 and again from 2007 to 2011.

Personal life

He was born on July 2, 1932, in

O'Neill, Nebraska O'Neill is a city in Holt County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 3,705 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Holt County. History O'Neill was platted in 1874. It was named for one of its founders, John O'Neill. O'Neill was ...

and graduated from Ewing High School, (

Ewing, Nebraska Ewing is a village in Holt County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 387 at the 2010 census. History Ewing was platted in 1882 when the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad was extended to that point. It was named for its post ...

) in 1950. He later graduated from the

University of Nebraska A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...

College of Agriculture and served in the U.S. Air Force, (Strategic Air Command), from 1954 to 1956 before earning his D.V.M. from

Kansas State University Kansas State University (KSU, Kansas State, or K-State) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Manhattan, Kansas, United States. It was opened as the state's land-grant college in 1863 and was the first public instit ...

in 1961. He also operated, (since 1968), the family's ranching operation near Goose Lake, (35 miles south of O'Neill), as a 5th generation rancher. The ranch runs 600 cows, in the primarily cow/calf operation. He was married, (Gloria Zoeller), and has four children, (Jon, veterinarian, Tom, social worker, Chris, rancher and Stephanie, nurse), and eleven grandchildren. Dierks died on October 22, 2021, at the age of 89.

Career

Prior to being elected to the State Legislature, Dierks served on the Ewing Public Board of Education from 1969? to 1984, and returned to serve briefly on that board again from 2004 to 2006. He has also served on the Board of Directors for St. Anthony's Hospital in

, a member of the Knights of Columbus, a licensed pilot and was a member of, (and former president of), the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association. Dierks was also a founding member of OCM, (the Organization For Competitive Markets), as well as R-Calf, (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund), and ICON, (Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska). Dierks was also an inductee into the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement in April, 2010, for his efforts in assisting Nebraska farmers and ranchers.

State legislature

Dierks was first elected to the Legislature in 1986 and was re-elected in 1990, 1994, and 1998 to represent the 40th Legislative District. Redistricting following the 2000 Census forced him to run against incumbent Doug Cunningham, in a district that was primarily previously represented by Cunningham. Cunningham won the election. When newly enacted term limits prevented Cunningham from seeking re-election in 2006, Dierks ran successfully, amid a field of three, for the seat. Because Nebraska's legislative term limits deal only with consecutive terms, Dierks was eligible to seek another term in 2010. He ran, but was defeated by

Tyson Larson Tyson Larson (born April 16, 1986) is an American politician who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature for the 40th district from 2011 to 2019. __NOTOC__ Early life and education Larson was born in Fort Carson, Colorado. He graduated ...

O'Neill The O'Neill dynasty (Irish: ''Ó Néill'') are a lineage of Irish Gaelic origin, that held prominent positions and titles in Ireland and elsewhere. As kings of Cenél nEógain, they were historically the most prominent family of the Northern ...

."Nebraska's legislative session starts Wednesday".

KTIV.
2011-01-03. Retrieved 2015-02-10. In the legislature, Dierks sat on the Agriculture, Committee On Committees, General Affairs, Revenue, and State-Tribal Relations Committees.

References

External links

# {{DEFAULTSORT:Dierks, Cap 1932 births 2021 deaths Nebraska state senators People from O'Neill, Nebraska Ranchers from Nebraska American people of German descent