The surviving half of one of Crawford’s all-time power couples has died. Iris Snyder passed away January 11th at Chadron Community Hospital – 12 days shy of her 96th birthday and almost 5 years after her husband Harris.
Iris Snyder grew up in Mitchell and met her future husband, then a Navy radioman on the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, at a dance at the Scotts Bluff County Fairgrounds in 1945.
After the war, Harris began law school in Lincoln. Iris soon followed and they were married in 1948. She typed all his papers and those of many of his classmates, learning much of the law along with him – the start of a 7 decade partnership
After graduating from law school, Harris and Iris came to Crawford as he went into partnership with attorney J-E Porter. Iris soon joined the firm as typist, clerk, paralegal, and general Jill of All Trades.
Over the next 6-plus decades, Iris shared her expertise with other law offices in the region and organized the Panhandle’s first Continuing Education Program for attorneys through the Nebraska Bar Association – ending only when ill health forced Harris to retire in 2014.
The couple were true community leaders. Harris was the Crawford City Attorney for 47 years, assisting on many community betterment projects including the purchase of the Legend Buttes Golf Course from the developer for 25-cents on the dollar.
Harris also served on the Crawford School Board as well as boards of the Chamber of Commerce and Old West Trail Rodeo Association, but Iris was equally involved with community leadership.
She served as treasurer of the Rodeo Association for 28 years as well president of the Crawford School Board for 2 terms, and spent 16 years on the Crawford Library Board of Trustees. She also played a lead role in securing grant funds for the Community Building, the White River Trail, and playground equipment for City Park.
Iris was also right beside Harris during his quarter-century as Mr Fireworks, raising money for the Old West Trails Rodeo Fireworks Show and riding beside him in their Model T Ford during the Crawford 4th of July Parade.