Background
Denney, Robert Vernon was born on April 11, 1916 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States. Son of Arthur J. and Helen (Weaver) Denney.
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Denney, Robert Vernon was born on April 11, 1916 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States. Son of Arthur J. and Helen (Weaver) Denney.
Born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Denney graduated from Fairbury High School in 1933. He attended Peru State Teachers College and the University of Nebraska from 1933 to 1936, and received an Bachelor of Laws from Creighton University School of Law in 1939.
He practiced law in Fairbury, Nebraska from 1939 to 1940 and then became a special agent for Federal Bureau of Investigation from 1940 to 1941, serving in Washington, District of Columbia and Chicago. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps during World World War II, in October 1942, with the First Armored Amphibian Battalion. He remained active in United States Marine Corps Reserve until 1960 and retired with rank of lieutenant colonel.
Denney resumed the practice of law in Fairbury from 1945 to 1967, becoming Jefferson County attorney from 1946 to 1951 and Fairbury city attorney from 1951 to 1956.
He was chairman of the Jefferson County Republican, and then chairman Nebraska Republican Party. He was elected to the Ninetieth and Ninety-first United States Congresses serving from January 3, 1967 to January 3, 1971.
He did not run for reelection to the Ninety-second United States Congress. On January 28, 1971, Denney was nominated by President Richard M. Nixon to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska created by 84 Statistics
294. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 4, 1971, and received his commission on March 5, 1971.
He assumed senior status on April 16, 1981, serving in that capacity until his death, in Omaha, Nebraska. He was buried in Fairbury Cemetery, in Fairbury. On December 23, 1981 the Robert V. Denney Federal Building and Courthouse in Lincoln, Nebraska was named by President Ronald Reagan.
Member 90th-91st Congresses 1st District Nebraska. Member Fairbury School Board, 1956. Chairman Jefferson County Republican Committee, 1960, Nebraska Republican Party, 1960-1964.
Served lieutenant colonel United States Marine Corps Reserve, 1942-1945.
Member Fairbury Chamber of Commerce (past president), American Legion (past post commander), Veterans of Foreign Wars. Mason ( Knights Templar, Shriner), Lion.
Clubs: Fairbury Executives (president), Fairbury Country (president).
Married Ruth Conklin, December 21, 1940. Children: Vernon, David, Michael, Deborah Admitted to Nebraska.