| Honored by: | Jean Peterson, Isabel Matterson and Jean Sibley |
| Brick location: | B:13 map |
Julia Cole was born in Cripple Creek, Colorado, and spent some of her childhood in New York City. Returning to Colorado as a young woman, she graduated from the University of Colorado and did social work in Denver before deciding to attend medical school at the Colorado College of Medicine. An internship in Iowa City brought her to Iowa and she later became the first woman medical doctor in Ames. A shortage of medical specialists during WW II caused her to add dermatology and allergy to her internal medicine practice. She joined the McFarland Clinic in the early 40's and practiced there until her retirement in 1960.
Julia was a long-time member of the league of Women Voters of Ames, chairing and participating in countless local study groups and serving on the State Board as well. She was elected to three terms on the Ames Board of Education. Common Cause was an organization which seemed to embody her ideas of citizen participation in government and she became a charter member.
Interested and active in local government, Julia was a voracious reader, becoming a source of information for her friends on legislation, taxation and the philosophy of politics.
She was also a devoted wife and mother and was remarkably sensitive and responsive to the problems of her friends. A great cook, a fine bridge player, she loved sports, especially basketball, and good music, especially jazz.
A skilled and caring physician, intelligent and well-rounded, unselfish and dedicated, Julia was a respected contributor to the Ames community and she greatly enriched the lives of all who were lucky enough to know her.
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