Jerry Lon Litton

Jerry Lon Litton (May 12, 1937 – August 3, 1976) was an American politician from Missouri who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives representing Missouri’s 6th congressional district from 1973 until his death in 1976. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected to two terms in the House and contributed to the legislative process during a significant period in American history, representing the interests of his northwestern Missouri constituents. In 1976, after only two terms in the House of Representatives, he sought higher office and entered the Democratic primary for the United States Senate.

Litton was born in Lock Springs, Daviess County, Missouri, and grew up in a rural farming environment that shaped his later political identity and public image. He became active in agricultural and youth leadership at an early age, gaining statewide attention through his involvement in the Future Farmers of America (FFA). His work with FFA, including leadership roles, helped establish him as a spokesman for rural issues and gave him early experience in public speaking and organization that would later serve his political career.

He attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, where he studied journalism and agriculture, further developing his skills in communication and his understanding of farm policy and rural economics. While at the university, he continued his involvement in student and agricultural organizations, reinforcing his reputation as an articulate advocate for Missouri’s farming communities. After completing his education, Litton returned to northern Missouri and became a successful cattle rancher and businessman, building a prominent livestock operation. His experience as a working farmer and entrepreneur grounded his later political positions in the practical concerns of agricultural producers and small-town residents.

Litton’s political career began in earnest in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when he became active in Democratic Party politics in Missouri. Capitalizing on his rural roots, communication skills, and growing name recognition, he ran for Congress in Missouri’s 6th congressional district. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-third Congress, taking office on January 3, 1973, and was reelected to the Ninety-fourth Congress. As a member of the House of Representatives from 1973 to 1977, he participated in the democratic process during a turbulent era marked by the end of the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal. He was known for his energetic outreach to constituents, including a televised program in which he interviewed national political figures, and he quickly gained a reputation as a rising star in the Democratic Party.

In 1976, Litton entered what amounted to a three-way Democratic Party primary race for the U.S. Senate seat of retiring Senator Stuart Symington. The other major contestants were Symington’s son, Representative James W. Symington, and former Missouri Governor Warren Hearnes. The campaign drew national attention because of Litton’s relative youth, his rapid ascent in politics, and his strong appeal in both rural and urban areas of the state. When the votes were counted in the August 3, 1976 primary, final election results showed Congressman Litton winning with 45.39 percent of the vote, with former Governor Warren Hearnes second at 26.38 percent and Congressman James Symington finishing third with 25.16 percent of the statewide vote. Seven other candidates, including Kansas City Mayor Charles Wheeler, split the remaining approximately 4 percent of the vote. Having secured the Democratic nomination, Litton was poised to face Republican nominee John Danforth, the Missouri Attorney General, in the general election.

Litton’s Senate bid ended tragically on the night of his primary victory. On August 3, 1976, he died in a plane crash along with his entire family—his wife, Sharon, and their two children, Linda and Scott—as well as pilot Paul Rupp Jr. and the pilot’s son, Paul Rupp III. They were departing from the airport in Chillicothe, Missouri, en route to a victory party in Kansas City. Their aircraft, a Beechcraft Model 58 Baron owned by Rupp Automotive, crashed on takeoff from the Chillicothe airport shortly after 9 p.m. on election night. The twin‑engine plane reached an altitude of about 100 to 150 feet above the airport’s only hard‑surfaced runway when the left engine failed due to a broken crankshaft. The plane veered sharply to the left and crashed rapidly into a nearby soybean field, where it exploded on impact, burning all victims beyond recognition.

The National Transportation Safety Board investigation concluded that the mechanical failure in the left engine precipitated the accident and that the pilot’s failure to retract the landing gear after the engine cut off contributed to the sudden loss of control. The NTSB reported that the aircraft had been airborne for only 19 seconds before striking the ground. Litton’s death created an immediate vacancy at the top of the Democratic ticket for the U.S. Senate. On August 21, 1976, the Missouri State Democratic Committee convened to select a replacement nominee and chose former Governor Warren Hearnes, who defeated Missouri State Treasurer Jim Spainhower by garnering 63.3 percent of the committee vote. In the November general election, Hearnes lost to Republican John Danforth, who received 56.93 percent of the vote.

In the years following his death, Litton’s legacy as a promising young legislator and advocate for rural Missouri continued to be recognized. His congressional service from 1973 until his death in 1976, his successful 1976 Senate primary campaign, and his reputation as a dynamic communicator left a lasting impression on Missouri politics. A museum of Litton memorabilia was later opened in the Jerry L. Litton Visitor Center near the dam at Smithville Lake in Smithville, Missouri, commemorating his life, public service, and the potential national career cut short by the 1976 plane crash.