Former DHS Director Charles Palmer Dies

(Des Moines, IA)  —  A two-time former director of the Iowa Department of Human Services has died.  The announcement of the death of Charles Palmer was made Sunday.  Palmer was chosen to head the massive state agency twice by former Governor Terry Branstad.  He served as D-H-S director from 1989 to 1999 and again from 2011 until his retirement in 2017.  Before those years, Palmer served as administrator of the Division of Mental Health.  Current D-H-S Director Kelly Garcia remembered him as “a great public servant, leader, and friend.”