John Montgomery Dalton (1900 - 1972)

Born 9 Nov 1900 in Vernon, Missouri, United States

Ancestors

Died 7 Jul 1972 at age 71 in Jefferson City, Cole, Missouri, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Sharon Hinshaw-Payne [send private message]

Preceded by 44th Governor James T. Blair, Jr.

John M. Dalton 45th Governor of Missouri 1961—1965

Succeeded by 46th Governor Warren E. Hearnes

Biography

John Dalton is Notable.

John Montgomery Dalton was born 9 November 1900, in rural Vernon County, Missouri, to parents Frederick A. Dalton and Ida Jane Poage. He had three brothers and two sisters. One brother, Sidna P. Dalton, would serve as Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court.

In 1914 his parents moved from Vernon County, Missouri to Columbia, Missouri, where he attended Columbia High School and the University of Missouri, graduating from the School of Law in 1923 with an LL.B. degree.

From 1923 to 1952, he practiced law in Dunklin County and engaged actively in cotton farming. Before he was elected Missouri's attorney general in 1952 (an office he held until his election as governor), he was the senior member of the law firm of Dalton, Treasurer and Dalton in Kennett, Missouri. Dalton served as city counselor of Kennett from 1944 to 1953 and was legislative counsel for the Missouri Rural Electrification Association in 1951-1952. Dalton was Dunklin County Central Democratic Committee chairman for eight years. While a member of the Democratic State Committee, he also served as the chairman of the Democratic State Speakers Bureau.

John was married on 22 November 1925, to Geraldine “Jerry” Hall of Cardwell. Jerry, daughter of Onie D. Hall and Grayce Cook, was born 01 July 1909. They had two children:

1. John Hall Dalton, the junior member of Dalton, Treasurer and Dalton
2. Julia Hall Dalton Hyland married John W. Hyland

John was elected governor on 8 November 1960, to a term ending in January 1965. During his administration, Dalton emphasized industrial development, highway safety, and education. In the area of education, the School Foundation Program was fully financed for the first time, and a state commission on higher education was established. Branches of the University of Missouri were established at Kansas City and St. Louis, and a state-supported junior college system was initiated. As a part of his program for highway safety a bill requiring seat belts in all new cars, beginning with the 1965 models, was approved. A point system was established for driver's license revocation and drunk driving was made a felony offense. In Jefferson City, a new Highway Patrol headquarters was constructed to centralize operations.A far-reaching informational program was initiated to attract new industry to Missouri from other states, Europe, and Asia. The Division of Resources and Development was reorganized into the Division of Commerce and Industrial

Following his term as governor, Dalton remained in Jefferson City and returned to the practice of law.

John Dalton died 7 Jul 1972 (aged 71), Jefferson City, Cole County, Missouri, and is buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Kennett, Dunklin County, Missouri.

Honors

The Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center at the University of Missouri is named for the late Governor.[5]

A portion of U.S. Highway 412 in Dunklin County bears the name "Governor John M. Dalton Memorial Highway."[6]

Gov. Dalton was a Master Mason, serving as Grand Orator for the Grand Lodge of Missouri

Sources

• Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22942/john-montgomery-dalton) : accessed 13 March 2020, memorial page for John Montgomery Dalton (9 Nov 1900–7 Jul 1972), Find A Grave Memorial no. 22942, citing Oak Ridge Cemetery, Kennett, Dunklin County, Missouri, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave .

• The State Historical Society of Missouri, "Dalton, John M. (1900-1972), Papers, 1921-1965" (https://collections.shsmo.org/manuscripts/columbia/c2417.pdf)

• The Political Graveyard - Freemasons (http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/MO/masons.D-J.html)

See also:

• Wikipedia: John_M._Dalton
• Wikidata: Item Q1700911, en:Wikipedia