A partnership rooted in community and service.
Some people talk about community. Nick and Linda Lucy built their lives around it.
For decades, if something was happening in Dubuque — a canvass, a parade, a county fair booth, a convention — chances are, Nick and Linda were there. Not for recognition or credit, but because they believed in a simple idea: showing up matters.
Their story begins the way a lot of good stories do — with work, shared values, and a partnership that grew into something bigger than either of them could have built alone.
Nick served in both the Navy and Air Force before starting a 40-year career as a telephone technician. He was proud of his union, active in CWA Local 7110, and believed deeply in the dignity of work. It was through that same phone company that he met Linda, and after they married in 1977, they built a life rooted in family, service, and a shared commitment to making their community stronger.
And that commitment showed up everywhere.
They hosted get-out-the-vote efforts, worked the polls, and volunteered at events year after year. They were the kind of people you could count on — steady, generous, and always ready to help. Whether it was a county fair booth or a state convention, Nick and Linda helped create the kind of community that keeps a local party strong.
Their work reached beyond Dubuque, too.
Nick was an alternate to the 1976 Democratic National Convention, connecting him to a broader movement for fairness and opportunity. Over time, he also became known as an unofficial photographer for Senator Tom Harkin, capturing moments with leaders like Presidents Jimmy Carter and Joe Biden. It was one more way he found to contribute — using his eye and his talent to help tell the story of the movement he cared about.
Linda’s path into public service looked a little different, but came from the same place.
She started as a volunteer in Senator Harkin’s Dubuque office and went on to serve for 25 years as his Regional Representative. In that role, she helped thousands of constituents navigate challenges, find answers, and feel heard — especially veterans. It’s the kind of work that often happens quietly, but makes a real difference in people’s lives.
Her commitment to community runs deep. Linda has been active in the Dubuque Branch NAACP since 1989, helping build a more inclusive and equitable community, and she also served as president of the League of Women Voters.
But what stands out most about Nick and Linda isn’t just what they did. It’s how they did it.
They treated people the same — whether you were a neighbor stopping by or a national leader passing through. They believed in conversation, in connection, and in the idea that democracy is something we practice together.
Nick passed away in 2024, and he is deeply missed by so many in this community. But his spirit — and the life he built alongside Linda — is still here. You can see it in the relationships they formed, the work they supported, and the community they helped strengthen over so many years.
Their story reminds us of something simple and true: progress doesn’t happen on its own. It’s built by people who keep showing up — because they care about their neighbors, and they care about the future.
That’s what Nick and Linda Lucy have done for Dubuque. And it’s why we’re proud to honor them with the Tom Harkin Award for Freedom, Justice, and Equality.
If you’d like to honor Nick and Linda’s legacy, please consider making a tribute gift in their name to support the Dubuque County Democrats and the work of building what’s next.