John Montgomery

Background

Dalton was born in rural Vernon County, Missouri in 1900 to parents Frederick Alfred and Ida Jane (Dunlap)(Poage) Dalton.

Education

John Dalton received his secondary education at Columbia High School in Columbia, Missouri, and then attended the University of Missouri where he earned a law degree in 1923.

Career

He was the 45th Governor of Missouri and the state"s 34th Attorney General. One brother, Sidna P. Dalton, would serve as Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court. After passing the Missouri Bar he returned to southern Missouri, establishing a law practice in Kennett, where he also served as city attorney from 1944 to 1953.

Dalton died July 7, 1972 in Jefferson City, Missouri and is buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Kennett.

John Dalton first entered statewide politics in 1952, running for and winning the first of two consecutive terms as Missouri Attorney General. Gubernatorial highlights: Governor Dalton signed legislation requiring all passenger vehicles in Missouri to have seat belts, and established a drivers license points system for traffic violations.

Other actions including securing funding for a new headquarters for the Missouri Highway Patrol, creation of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, and furthering desegregation of Missouri schools.

Achievements

• The Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center at the University of Missouri is named for the late Governor. A portion of United States. Highway 412 in Dunklin County bears the name "Governor John M. Dalton Memorial Highway." Government. Dalton was a Master Mason, serving as Grand Orator for the Grand Lodge of Missouri.