| Richard Oswald Eymann | |
| Office: | 53rd Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives |
| Termstart: | 1973 |
| Termend: | 1974 |
| Predecessor: | Bob Smith |
| Successor: | Philip D. Lang |
| Office2: | Member of the Oregon House of Representatives |
| Term2: | 1961 - 1964 1969 - 1975 |
| Constituency2: | Lane County |
| Birth Date: | February 3, 1919 |
| Birth Place: | Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada |
| Death Place: | Springfield, Oregon, U.S. |
| Spouse: | Juanita Eymann |
| Alma Mater: | Dartmouth College |
| Party: | Democratic |
Richard Oswald Eymann (February 3, 1919 - September 26, 2005) was an American businessman and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Alberta, Canada, he served as an airman during World War II and then graduated from Dartmouth College. Eymann moved to Oregon where he would serve as a Democrat in the Oregon House of Representatives, including one session as Speaker.
Richard O. Eymann was born in 1919 in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada.[1] After service in the South Pacific Theater during World War II as an airman, he attended Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.[1] He graduated with a master's degree in business administration in 1947[2] and moved to Springfield, Oregon.[3]
In Oregon, he worked for Weyerhaeuser as an executive at their mill in Springfield.[3] Eymann married Juanita, and they had eight children; Richard, Ramona, Patricia, Carol, Katy, Deborah, Rebecca and Penelope.[3] Eymann would work for the Oregon State Tax Commission as executive secretary before entering politics.[3] He also helped to found McKenzie-Willamette Memorial Hospital in Springfield and was one of the original administrators at Lane Community College, later moving to the neighboring Mohawk Valley.[1]
In 1960, Eymann was elected as a Democrat to serve District 14 and Lane County in the Oregon House of Representatives.[4] He won re-election and served in the 1963 legislature, representing District 13 after reapportionment.[5] He was a delegate to the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.[6]
Eymann returned to the Oregon Legislative Assembly during the 1969 session.[7] He was re-elected in 1970 to the same seat,[8] and was elected again in 1972, but to District 44.[9] During the 1973 session he was elected as Speaker of the House, serving through the 1974 special session of the legislature.[10] He defeated Les AuCoin in the election for the Speakership.[11] During the session he served as Speaker the legislature passed many bills including the Oregon Shield Law, land use planning, and a bill to allow public employees to unionize.[1]
In 1974, Eymann lost his run at re-election to Republican Bill Rogers.[1] In 1986, he attempted to get the Democratic nomination to run against incumbent Bob Packwood for U.S. Senate after the primary winner dropped out, but lost out to Rick Bauman.[12] In 1992, Eymann tried to return to public office, running for Oregon State Treasurer.[13] Eymann won 27% of the vote in the May Democratic primary, losing to Jim Hill who also won in the November general election.[13]
In 1978, he assisted in the establishment of the Emerald People's Utility District, the publicly-owned power company serving the areas surrounding Springfield and Eugene. Eymann served on the board of the organization from founding until 2004.[3] His son Richard C. is an attorney in Spokane, Washington.[14] Daughter Ramona has served as the chief clerk for the Oregon House since 1985, while daughter Katy married Bill Bradbury.[3] Richard O. Eymann died on September 26, 2005, near Springfield at the age of 86.[3]