Services Scheduled For Erwin Schwiebert

Memorial services are scheduled Saturday in Caldwell for Erwin Schwiebert, former state legislator, educator and twice a candidate for Congress in Idaho’s 1st Congressional District.

Schwiebert died Jan. 8 at Portland at age 86.

Schwiebert was elected to the Legislature in 1942 and served four terms in the House and one in the Senate. He ran for Congress as a Republican in 1954 and 1962.

While serving as chairman of the House Education Committee, Schwiebert sponsored legislation that established the first teacher retirement program in the state.

Starting in 1941, Schwiebert taught speech and debate at College of Idaho, now Albertson’s, coaching nationally recognized debate teams.

The college honored him with an honorary doctor of law degree in 1983 and the Half Century Life Achievement Award in 1996. He was a columnist for two Idaho newspapers.