by Mari Radtke
It’s a special life when you can look back and say that you got to live your dream life. “This is what I wanted to do; to be a lawyer in a small town, not in a city. I’ve enjoyed my time and don’t regret it,” said Bruce Green as he reflected on his career. He retired as Primghar City Attorney in the end of 2024. Green is a Colfax native and also lived in Des Moines before settling in Primghar, Iowa.
Bruce Green began as the Primghar City Attorney in October 1975. He joined Hubert Schultz then as a new lawyer. Schultz handed over the position with Green’s arrival, giving him the experience. The law practice became Schultz & Green.
Green’s service was predominantly non-controversial. He was used to being on boards. They often wanted the attorney to make the decisions, but that was too easy. “I gave legal advice.” He would give the pros and cons of a situation and the different options. Sometimes there would be a conflict of interest in which someone maybe had to sit out participation on a particular topic.
Bruce reflected on his early days with Schultz, who was active in the O’Brien County Republican Party and in several communities in around the county including Sanborn. Green reflected on the time that Sanborn got the gas franchise and Primghar’s City Council voted it down. There was a tinge of sadness in that reflection for Primghar, noting Sanborn has a big aquatic center and so much more.
Real estate buy or sell procedures for Primghar were common for his practice.
Primghar works hard to clean up its appearance, enlisting the effort of its residents. Green sees the effort to clean up a property as an economic decision, not the law. It’s good for the city, and he says he feels the tax incentives were more helpful than enforcement.
Bruce reflected on his feelings about the community’s demeanor toward change, saying he’d like to see the town “be a little more progressive.” He likes seeing younger people. “That’s good,” he said. “I see them more than in the past. I’d like to see [that attitude] expand and better everyone in the community. Don’t be afraid to change.”
Bruce Green filled the City Attorney position in Primghar for nearly 40 years. “I’m glad I could serve that long. I enjoyed taking part. I sat through my part and answered questions,” he said of his tenure. He commented that it is sad the hospital left. “That’s not good for Primghar.”
Green earned his Bachelors from University of Iowa and his JD from Drake Law in 1975. An uncle with an 8th grade education, strongly believed in higher education and became wildly successful at manufacturing paid his way through college. Bruce returned/is returning that same sentiment by paying for his daughter and two granddaughters’ educations and also offered his sister the same. He has 1 sister, and is married with 1 daughter and 2 granddaughters.