John Irish
1843-1923. Editor, publisher, legislator, teacher, was said to have been destined for national office, except for being a Democrat during a Republican era and losing an election for Iowa governor. Youngest of four sons of pioneer Captain F. M. Irish, as a barefoot boy he guided his blind father around town, landing in jail with his father after a vigilante affair. An outspoken voice who shunned neckties, he owned and edited the daily Iowa City State Press (1864-1882), which in 1920 became the Press when merged to form the Press-Citizen. As a trustee (now Iowa state Board of Regents), he garnered state appropriations for UI.