James C. Kirkpatrick (June 15, 1905 – December 26, 1997) was an American politician from

Missouri Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...

USA The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

Early life

He was born in Braymer, Missouri, graduated from Northeast High School in

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the 36th most-populous city in the United States. It is the central ...

and

Central Missouri State University The University of Central Missouri (UCM) is a public university in Warrensburg, Missouri. In 2019, enrollment was 11,229 students from 49 states and 59 countries on its 1,561-acre campus. UCM offers 150 programs of study, including 10 pre-profes ...

Warrensburg, Missouri Warrensburg is a city in and the county seat of Johnson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 20,313 at the 2020 census. The Warrensburg Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Johnson County. The city is a college town as it is ...

. He was a member of

Sigma Tau Gamma Sigma Tau Gamma (), commonly known as Sig Tau, is a United States college social fraternity founded on June 28, 1920, at the University of Central Missouri (then known as Central Missouri State Teachers College). The fraternity was founded as a re ...

fraternity. He started his newspaper career at ''

The Daily Star-Journal The Warrensburg Star-Journal is the number one weekly newspaper in Johnson County, Missouri published by the Sedalia Democrat. History The paper traces its history to the ''Warrensburg Journal'', which began publishing April 17, 1865, by James D ...

'' in Warrensburg and rose to be its editor. He went on to be editor of the '' Jefferson City News-Tribune''. He purchased weekly newspapers ''

Windsor, Missouri Windsor is a city in Henry and Pettis counties, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,901 at the 2010 census. History Windsor was laid out in 1855, and originally known as Belmont. Its name was changed to Windsor in 1859, after Windsor C ...

Review'' and then the ''

Lamar, Missouri Lamar is a city in and the county seat of Barton County, Missouri, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 4,266. It is known as the birthplace of Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the United States. The city governme ...

Democrat''. Governor

Forrest Smith Forrest Smith (February 14, 1886 – March 8, 1962) was an American politician who served as the 42nd governor of Missouri. He was a Democrat. Personal life Forrest Smith was born February 14, 1886, near Hardin in Ray County, Missouri. After ...

asked him to write speeches for him. In 1960 he was defeated by

Warren Hearnes Warren Eastman Hearnes (July 24, 1923 – August 16, 2009) was an American politician who served as the 46th governor of Missouri from 1965 to 1973. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first officeholder eligible to serve two consecutiv ...

in his first bid for Missouri Secretary of State. He won his first term in 1964.

Career

A member of the Democratic Party, he served as Missouri's Secretary of State from 1965 to 1985, establishing the current Missouri record for tenure of an elected state constitutional officer. Kirkpatrick was a publisher by trade; the Northwest Missouri Press Association gives an annual award bearing his name.

Legacy

Numerous public facilities in Missouri have been named in Kirkpatrick's honor. Senate Concurrent Resolution 36, passed in 1998, renamed Missouri's State Information Center the James C. Kirkpatrick Information Center. The main library at the

University of Central Missouri The University of Central Missouri (UCM) is a public university in Warrensburg, Missouri. In 2019, enrollment was 11,229 students from 49 states and 59 countries on its 1,561-acre campus. UCM offers 150 programs of study, including 10 pre-profes ...

in Warrensburg, Missouri, is named the James C. Kirkpatrick Library. The Student Government Association at the University of Central Missouri has established the "James C. Kirkpatrick Excellence in Governance Award" for outstanding public service and the promotion of higher education in Missouri. This acknowledgment of service is awarded every spring for the past 23 years in the James C. Kirkpatrick Library around St. Patrick's day in honor of Mr. Kirkpatricks heritage. Past recipients include: *Governor Matt Blunt, *Deleta Williams, State Representative and former UCM Board of Governors member, *Senator Claire McCaskill, *Governor

Jay Nixon Jeremiah Wilson "Jay" Nixon (born February 13, 1956) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 55th Governor of Missouri from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected to the governorship in 2008 and reele ...

, *Robin Carnahan, Missouri Secretary of State, *David Pearce, State Representative, *Paul LeVota, House Democratic Leader.

References

External links

Missouri Secretary of State's OfficeMissouri Press AssociationUCM Student Government Page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kirkpatrick, James Kirkpatrick, James C. Kirkpatrick, James C. Missouri Democrats 1905 births 1997 deaths 20th-century American politicians People from Caldwell County, Missouri