Jerry Litton
Encyclopedia
Jerry Lon Litton was a Democratic
U.S. Representative from Missouri
who died with his wife and two children while en route via a small plane to the victory party after winning Missouri's state Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.
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. He served as President of the local Columbia chapter of the Alpha Gamma Rho
Fraternity.
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 involvement in leadership in agriculture and rural communities. His family (including his parents, Mildred and Charlie Litton) was very prominent in the Charolais business.
as a Democrat
in 1972. He was considered a rising star in the Democratic Party and his television show "Dialogue with Litton" was broadcast statewide. Among the guests were Jimmy Carter
, Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz
, Congressman Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, and House Speaker Carl Albert
.
Green bumper stickers (like those used in his prior Congressional campaigns) circulated in the state saying "Litton for President." Jimmy Carter
was to say that he thought Litton would be President one day.
. The other major contestants were Symington's son James W. Symington
and former Missouri Governor Warren Hearnes. Litton won the primary but died with his entire family (wife, Sharon, and their 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
; their plane crashed on take-off from 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. Final election results showed Congressman Litton winning with 45.39%, former Governor Warren Hearnes second at 26.38%, and Congressman James Symington finishing third with 25.16% of the statewide vote. Seven other candidates including Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Charles Wheeler
split the remaining 4 percent of the vote. The State Democratic Committee held a vote on a new nominee on August 21st and Hearnes defeated Jim Spainhower
garnering 63.3% of the vote. Hearnes lost the general election to John C. Danforth who garnered 56.93% of the vote.
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
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
U.S. Representative from Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
who died with his wife and two children while en route via a small plane to the victory party after winning Missouri's state Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.
Early life
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 MissouriUniversity of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
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
Stuart Symington
William Stuart Symington was a businessman and political figure from Missouri. He served as the first Secretary of the Air Force from 1947 to 1950 and was a Democratic United States Senator from Missouri from 1953 to 1976.-Education and business career:...
's unsuccessful 1960 run for U.S. President. He served as President of the local Columbia chapter of the Alpha Gamma Rho
Alpha Gamma Rho
Alpha Gamma Rho is a social-professional fraternity in the United States, with 75 university chapters including chapter in Mindanao State University, Philippines...
Fraternity.
Litton made his fortune raising cattle at the Litton Charolais
Charolais cattle
Charolais cattle are a beef breed of cattle which originated in Charolais, around Charolles, in France. They are raised for their meat and are known for their composite qualities when crossed with other breeds, most notably Angus and Hereford cattle...
Cattle Ranch in Chillicothe, Missouri
Chillicothe, Missouri
Chillicothe is a city in and the county seat of Livingston County, Missouri, United States. The population was 9,515 at the 2010 census. The name "Chillicothe" is Shawnee for "big town", and was named after their Chillicothe, located since 1774 about a mile from the present-day city.Chillicothe is...
. 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 involvement in leadership in agriculture and rural communities. His family (including his parents, Mildred and Charlie Litton) was very prominent in the Charolais business.
U.S. Representative
Litton was elected to the U.S. HouseUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in 1972. He was considered a rising star in the Democratic Party and his television show "Dialogue with Litton" was broadcast statewide. Among the guests were Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz
Earl Butz
Earl Lauer "Rusty" Butz was a United States government official who served as Secretary of Agriculture under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.- Background :...
, Congressman Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, and House Speaker Carl Albert
Carl Albert
Carl Bert Albert was a lawyer and a Democratic American politician from Oklahoma.Albert represented the southeastern portion of Oklahoma as a Democrat for 30 years, starting in 1947. He is best known for his service as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1971 to 1977...
.
Green bumper stickers (like those used in his prior Congressional campaigns) circulated in the state saying "Litton for President." Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
was to say that he thought Litton would be President one day.
1976 U.S. Senate Election
In 1976, after only two terms in the House of Representatives, Litton entered into what amounted to a three-way Democratic Party primary race for the U.S. Senate seat of retiring Senator Stuart SymingtonStuart Symington
William Stuart Symington was a businessman and political figure from Missouri. He served as the first Secretary of the Air Force from 1947 to 1950 and was a Democratic United States Senator from Missouri from 1953 to 1976.-Education and business career:...
. The other major contestants were Symington's son James W. Symington
James W. Symington
James Wadsworth Symington is a United States attorney and politician who served as four-term U.S. representative representing Missouri.-Youth, family, and education:...
and former Missouri Governor Warren Hearnes. Litton won the primary but died with his entire family (wife, Sharon, and their 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
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
; their plane crashed on take-off from 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. Final election results showed Congressman Litton winning with 45.39%, former Governor Warren Hearnes second at 26.38%, and Congressman James Symington finishing third with 25.16% of the statewide vote. Seven other candidates including Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Charles Wheeler
Charles Wheeler
Charles Wheeler may refer to:*Charles Wheeler , Australian painter*Charles Wheeler , journalist with the BBC*Charles Wheeler , Missouri politician...
split the remaining 4 percent of the vote. The State Democratic Committee held a vote on a new nominee on August 21st and Hearnes defeated Jim Spainhower
Jim Spainhower
James "Jim" Spainhower is a U.S. Democratic politician from Missouri. He served four terms in the Missouri House of Representatives and two terms as the Missouri State Treasurer.-Early life:...
garnering 63.3% of the vote. Hearnes lost the general election to John C. Danforth who garnered 56.93% of the vote.
Several other noted politicians have died in aircraft crashes during U.S. Senate campaigns: Virginia Republican nominee Richard D. Obenshain
Richard D. Obenshain
Richard Dudley Obenshain was an attorney in southwest Virginia and rising conservative political leader in the Republican Party of Virginia until his death in the crash of a small airplane.- Biography :...
in 1978, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
Governor Mel Carnahan
Mel Carnahan
Melvin Eugene "Mel" Carnahan was an American politician. A Democrat, he served as the 51st Governor of Missouri from 1993 to 2000. He died in a plane crash on the Pevely and Hillsboro, Missouri border during a campaign for the U.S...
in 2000 (who actually won his election posthumously) and Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
Senator Paul Wellstone
Paul Wellstone
Paul David Wellstone was a two-term U.S. Senator from the state of Minnesota and member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, which is affiliated with the national Democratic Party. Before being elected to the Senate in 1990, he was a professor of political science at Carleton College...
in 2002.
A museum of Litton memorabilia is in the Jerry L. Litton Visitor Center near the dam at Smithville Lake
Smithville Lake
Smithville Lake is a reservoir on the Little Platte branch of the Platte River near Smithville, Missouri.The lake was built and is administered by the Kansas City office of the United States Army Corps of Engineers...
in Smithville, Missouri
Smithville, Missouri
Smithville is a city in Clay and Platte counties in the U.S. state of Missouri, along the Little Platte River. The population was 5,514 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Smithville is located at , primarily in Clay County....