Jerry Litton

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Portrait of Litton used in the 1976 campaign.
Portrait of Litton used in the 1976 campaign.
Front page of Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune on August 4, 1976 announcing the crash. Litton had visited the newspaper just before the crash and supporters had gathered at the newspaper to get results.
Front page of Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune on August 4, 1976 announcing the crash. Litton had visited the newspaper just before the crash and supporters had gathered at the newspaper to get results.

Jerry Lon Litton (May 12, 1937 – August 3, 1976) was a Democratic U.S. Representative from Missouri who died with his entire family while flying to the victory party after winning the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

Litton was born near Lock Springs, Daviess County, Missouri in a house without electricity. He was national secretary of the Future Farmers of America (1956-1957). He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1961 with a B.S. in Journalism. Litton was president of the University of Missouri Young Democrats and chair of the National Youth for Symington during Stuart Symington's unsuccessful 1960 run for U.S. President.

Litton made his fortune raising cattle at the Litton Charolais Cattle Ranch in Chillicothe, Missouri. This ranch was maintained as a beautiful showplace where Litton entertained both the well connected and constituents. Litton made a point to bring school children and low level local leaders to his home. Before he began his political career, he was active in promoting youth involment in leadership in agriculture and rural communities. His family including his parents were very prominent in the Charolais business.

Litton was elected to the U.S. House as a Democrat in 1972. He was considered a rising star in the Democratic Party and had a television show "Dialogue with Litton" which was broadcast statewide. Among the guests were Jimmy Carter, Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz, Vice President Gerald Ford, Congressman Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, and House Speaker Carl Albert.[1]

Green bumper stickers circulated in the state saying "Litton for President."[2] Jimmy Carter was to say that he thought Litton would be President one day.[3]

In 1976, Litton, after only two terms in the House, he entered into a three-way primary for the seat of retiring Senator Stuart Symington. The other contestants were Symington's son James W. Symington and Missouri Governor Warren Hearnes. Litton won the primary but died with his entire family (wife Sharon and two children Linda and Scott) along with pilot Paul Rupp Jr. and the pilot's son, Paul Rupp III en route to a victory party in Kansas City, Missouri when their plane crashed on take off at the Chillicothe airport shortly after 9 p.m. on election night. The investigation into the crash determined the twin engine plane broke a chankshaft while under the strain of take off. Hearnes was appointed to run but lost to John Danforth.

Several other noted politicians have died in aircraft crashes during U.S. Senate campaigns: Virginia Republican nominee Richard D. Obenshain in 1978, Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan in 2000 (who actually won his election posthumously) and Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone in 2002.

A museum of Litton memorabilia is in the Jerry L. Litton Visitor Center near the dam at Smithville Lake in Smithville, Missouri[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ WHMC-Columbia-Jerry L. Litton, Papers, 1960-1976 (C3730)-INVENTORY
  2. ^ The World According to Leigh Ann Little
  3. ^ History of the Litton Agri-Science Learning Center
  4. ^ Jerry L. Litton Visitor Center

[edit] External links

Preceded by
William Raleigh Hull, Jr.		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 6th congressional district
1973–1976		 Succeeded by
Earl Thomas Coleman