Congressman Tom Latham of Iowa’s fourth Congressional district will address the class of 2006 at Simpson College’s 139th commencement ceremonies at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 20 in the Cowles Athletic Center on the Indianola campus. Latham will also be given an honorary doctor of public service degree from the college.

Latham is a six-term Republican representative, representing the people of Iowa since 1995. He grew up and raised his family near Alexander, Iowa, a town of 168 people, where he continues to farm and share ownership of the family business, Latham Seeds, with two of his brothers. His son, Justin, graduated from Simpson in 1992 while his daughter, Jennifer, was in the class of 1999.

“Congressman Latham has established himself as one of Iowa's most effective representatives," said Simpson's president John Byrd. "He's considered a champion of agriculture, small business owners, seniors, taxpayers and higher education in general. We note with pride that two of his children attended Simpson. He knows us and appreciates the high quality of education our students receive.”

In addition to serving as Iowa’s only member of the House Appropriations Committee, he serves on the Speaker’s Task Force for a Drug-Free America, the House Prescription Drug Action Leadership Team, and most recently the Congressional Task Force for Affordable Natural Gas.

Recently, he received The Sonny Montgomery Award from the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States for his outstanding support of enlisted men and women of the Army and Air National Guard.