{{Short description|American politician (1929–2004)}} {{use mdy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Edwin Dvorak | office = Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 8th district | term_start = August 4, 1977 | term_end = January 4, 1979 | predecessor = Warren Swigart | successor = Vard Johnson | birth_date = {{birth date|1929|12|14}} | birth_place = near Ravinia, South Dakota | death_date = {{death date and age|2004|12|10|1929|12|14}} | death_place = Omaha, Nebraska | education = Creighton University (B.B.A.) | party = Democratic | occupation = Accountant | allegiance = {{flag|United States}} | branch = {{flagicon image|Flag of the United States Marine Corps.svg}} United States Marine Corps | service_years = 1952–1954 }}
'''Edwin V. Dvorak''' (December 14, 1929{{spaced ndash}}December 10, 2004) was a Democratic politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 8th district from 1977 to 1979.
==Early life== Dvorak was born on his family's farm near Ravinia, South Dakota, in 1929,<ref name="dies">{{cite news|last=Loza|first=Josefina|title=Wildlife enthusiast Ed Dvorak dies at 74|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=December 16, 2004|location=|page=4B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-obituary-for-ed-dvora/196480690/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 28, 2026}}</ref> He grew up in Lake Andes, South Dakota, and played as a halfback in high school.<ref name="an office">{{cite news|last=Flanery|first=Jim|title=Dvorak's 1st Goal: An Office|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=September 5, 1977|location=|page=2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/196480787/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 28, 2026}}</ref> Dvorak moved to Omaha, Nebraska, in 1947, to attend Creighton University, where he received his bachelor's degree in business administration.<ref name="an office"/><ref name="dies"/> He served in the Marines from 1952 to 1954, and returned to Omaha, working as a sales representative, accountant, and life insurance agent before establishing an accounting firm.<ref name="an office"/><ref name="dies"/>
==Nebraska Legislature== In 1977, State Senator Warren Swigart, who represented the North Omaha-based 8th district, resigned after he was elected to the Omaha City Council. Governor J. James Exon appointed Dvorak to serve out the remainder of Swigart's term, and upon Dvorak's swearing in on August 4, 1977,<ref>{{cite book|title=Legislative Journal of the State of Nebraska: Eighty-Fifth Legislature, Second Session|editor-last1=O'Donnell|editor-first1=Patrick J.|year=1978|page=40|volume=1|url=https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/85/PDF/Journal/r2journal_book.pdf|access-date=April 28, 2026}}</ref> he announced that he would seek a full term in 1978. Dvorak, a sportsman, pushed for the creation of new state parks in the legislature.<ref>{{cite news|last=Paxson|first=Richard|title=Two new faces in Legislature really old hands or nearly so|newspaper=Lincoln Journal|date=January 2, 1978|location=|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/196480566/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 28, 2026}}</ref>
Dvorak faced five challengers in the nonpartisan primary: attorney Vard Johnson, University of Nebraska at Omaha administrator Earl Berg, state labor department employee Frances Woznicki, retired teacher Christine Kneifl, and businessman Grant Manchester.<ref>{{cite news|last=Joyce|first=James|title=Elections could alter personality of Unicam|newspaper=Lincoln Star|date=May 3, 1978|location=|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star/195092626/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref> Dvorak placed first in the primary election, receiving 30 percent of the vote, and advanced to the general election against Johnson, who placed second with 27 percent.<ref name="1978 results">{{cite book|title=Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 9, 1978, General Election, November 7, 1978|last=Beermann|first=Allen J.|publisher=Nebraska Secretary of State|year=1978|url=https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/S1200/S001-1978prim_gen.pdf|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref> Johnson ultimately defeated Dvorak, winning the general election with 56 percent of the vote.<ref name="1978 results"/>
==Death== Dvorak died on December 10, 2004.<ref name="dies"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dvorak, Edwin}} Category:1929 births Category:2004 deaths Category:Nebraska state senators Category:People from South Dakota Category:People from Omaha, Nebraska Category:Creighton University alumni Category:Nebraska Democrats Category:American accountants Category:United States Marines Category:20th-century members of the Nebraska Legislature