Remembering the late Jerry Litton

by steve tinnen leader publisher emeritus

You know you’re growin’ older when... people call at 9 p.m. and ask, “Did I wake you?”

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“Farmers can’t feed their families or pay their bills on political promises.” ~ Jerry Litton

August 3rd has come and gone. For most, it was just another day on Mother Earth, except for those of us who knew Congressman Jerry Litton. Tuesday, August 3, 1976, is the date when the plane carrying Litton and his family crashed on takeoff in Chillicothe, Missouri. All souls were lost – his entire family

(wife, Sharon, and their two children, Linda and Scott), pilot Paul Rupp, Jr., and the pilot’s son, Paul Rupp III – as they departed the airport for a victory party in Kansas City.

The congressman was in the Democratic Party primary race for the U.S. Senate seat of retiring Senator Stuart Symington. The other major contestants were Symington’s son, James W. Symington, and former Missouri Governor Warren Hearnes.

The horrific news sent shockwaves throughout the Sixth District, the state of Missouri, and the entire nation, as well.

Our family was more than just an enthusiastic supporter of Litton. My brother, Dave, was a legislative aide for the congressman at his office in Washington, D.C. Our father, Skip, was a chairman for his election efforts in Clinton County and the Sixth District. That night, we all were prepared for the victory party in Kansas City.

I was bartending at Pete’s Inn, located at the Park Plaza Shopping Center (64th Street and I-29). Since it was election day, our opening was delayed until 7:30. I spoke to Dave earlier in the day; he had assured me that Litton was going to win, and win big. He said that Jerry had told him earlier that weekend that polling showed he was going

LETTER TO THE EDITOR to win by a wide margin. Dave was excited to share the news. Apparently, he and the Congressman had a bet on what would be the margin of victory. Litton’s victory was a landslide, with 43.39 percent to former Governor Warren Hearnes (second) at 26.38 percent, with Symington finishing third at 25.16 percent of the statewide vote. There were seven other candidates, including Kansas City Mayor Charles Wheeler.

Congressman Litton’s confidence in the polling was born out and he won the bet. We stayed open later than normal that night. My parents worked their way north to