Davey, Michael E.

Mr. Powell graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1972.  During his career, he has had a diverse general practice representing individuals, businesses, and government bodies. He is licensed to practice in both Iowa and Missouri. His practice currently includes, but is not limited to, business and commercial law, wills and estates, real estate law, family law, personal injury, and criminal defense.

Prior to founding The Powell Law Firm, P.C., from 1973 to 1977 he was a Staff Judge Advocate with the U.S. Air Force at Norton AFB, California.  During his service as a JAG officer, Mr. Powell was the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, Chief of Military Justice, and the government contracts legal officer.  From 1977 to 1988, Mr. Powell was both a staff attorney and the managing attorney for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri in St. Louis, Missouri. His practice at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri focused in the area of consumer protection and contracts, family law, real estate, and civil rights law. From 1988 to 1996 he was an attorney with the law firm of Black, Goldman & Powell in Des Moines, Iowa, where he had a general practice including, but not limited to, employment law, civil rights litigation, and the representation of businesses.

Mr. Powell has received numerous awards during his career.  In 1999, he was awarded the The Iowa State Bar Association Pro Bono Award and the Equal Access to Justice Award from the Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Legal Services Project of Iowa.  The Iowa Council for International Understanding gave him the Dorothy L. Towne Award for Outstanding Service in 2005.  In 1990, he was selected by the voters to be the Democratic Party nominee for the U.S. Congress for the 5^th congressional district.  He has also received recognition from the St. Louis University School of Law, Washington University School of Law, St. Louis Public Schools, Missouri Attorney General, and Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis for his work in legal education.

During his career, he has authored numerous legal works for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, The Missouri Bar, the National Business Institute, and Lorman Educational Services.  These have been on topics that include real estate and land use, evidence law, employment law, and consumer law. Mr. Powell has also frequently lectured on legal topics such as land use and planning, real estate law, employment law, commercial law, evidence, and international law to groups such as the St. Louis University School of Law, Grand View University, the National Business Institute, and the National Association of Attorneys General.

He has been active in community service during his career.  He has been Chairman (1991-1996) and a Commissioner of the Warren County Planning and Zoning Commission and Chairman of the Warren County Task Force on Environmental Improvement (1992). Mr. Powell served on the Board of Directors for the Des Moines Area United Nations Association, was selected as Chairman of the City of Ferguson Board of Housing Appeals (1987-1988), was elected as President of the Lee Hamilton School Parent-Teachers Organization (1987-1988), was the Ferguson-Florissant School District Liaison to the Conference on Education (1987), and served as Subcommittee Chair, Ferguson-Florissant School District Long Range Strategic Planning Committee on Innovative Funding from Private and Public Sources (1987).

Rod Powell was born in West Union, Iowa.  He spent his childhood on a farm near Strawberry Point, Iowa, and graduated from Starmont High School near Strawberry Point.  He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in political science. He has four grown children.