John Chester Culver (August 8, 1932 – December 26, 2018) was an American politician, lawyer, and military officer. A Democrat from Iowa, he served as a U.S. Representative from Iowa's 2nd congressional district from 1965 to 1975 and as a U.S. Senator from Iowa from 1975 to 1981. Born in Rochester, Minnesota and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, he attended Harvard University where he earned a B.A. in American Government in 1954 and played fullback on the Harvard Crimson football team alongside future Senator Ted Kennedy. He was selected in the 27th round of the 1954 NFL Draft by the Chicago Cardinals but pursued law instead, graduating from Harvard Law School. After serving in the U.S. Army and practicing law in Cedar Rapids, he entered politics. Culver was known for his work on environmental protection (including support for the Clean Water Act), agriculture policy, education, and civil rights. He lost his 1980 re-election bid to Republican Chuck Grassley. After leaving office, he taught at the University of Iowa, wrote books on politics and history, and remained active in Democratic circles. His son, Chet Culver, served as Iowa's governor from 2007 to 2011.