Kevin Reynolds doll makes Statehouse debut

DES MOINES - Kevin Reynolds, the husband of Gov. Kim Reynolds, became encased Wednesday in Iowa history.

Reynolds - known as Iowa's first spouse, first gentleman or as the governor's sometimes calls him, 'the first dude” - was on hand for an unveiling ceremony of his doll likeness that joined 44 other figurines in the First Doll display in the first-floor south rotunda at the Iowa Capitol.

He has occupied a unique place in Iowa history since his wife was inaugurated as Iowa's first female governor last May when she succeeded outgoing Gov. Terry Branstad, who resigned to become U.S. ambassador to China.

'It's an honor to be the first gentleman to join this unique collection,” Reynolds told a small crowd that gathered to witness the unveiling a doll with a porcelain face, hands and feet and a cloth likeness of the tuxedo he wore at his wife's inauguration.

The other 44 dolls in the display depict likenesses of Iowa's previous first ladies dating to the state's territorial beginning in 1838.

'Initially, I just said get a G.I. Joe doll and that would be fine,” Reynolds said after the unveiling.

Diane Becker, administrator at the Terrace Hill governor's mansion and landmark, said the foundation contracted with a master doll maker in Colorado to produce the Reynolds' doll, noting it was difficult to find doll makers who produce adult and male dolls.

'We tried to make it look like Kevin,” Becker said. It's pretty good, I think.'

The display case first was unveiled Dec. 28, 1976, and is one of the Capitol's most popular attractions, said Joni Arnett, a tour guide supervisor. Reynolds will be the fifth doll added since the display's inception - including two separate likenesses of former first lady Chris Branstad in gowns from her husband's 1983 inauguration and his return to the office in 2011.

'There are millions of visitors that have come through this building at the time that we've had this display and they all stop and look and they all really enjoy the doll case,” Arnett said.

'Hundreds of thousands of Iowa schoolchildren that have come here and they stand in front of the case and as the tour guides explain what they're looking at, talk about the histories of the governors, there are two questions that always come up: one of those questions is, 'Why isn't there a man in the case?' and the other question is, 'If there is a woman governor, what doll will be put in the place?” she said. 'So I have to say that I'm really pleased today that we finally have the answers to those questions.”

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