John Cotten Towler Sr. (July 5, 1939 – December 16, 2015) was an American
Democratic politician, lawyer, screenwriter and actor.
Early and family life
Born in
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, colloquially known as C'ville, is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is the county seat of Albemarle County, which surrounds the city, though the two are separate legal entities. It is named after Queen Ch ...
, to the former Jane Cotten Nolan and her career
United States Army officer husband, William Albert Towler Jr., the family moved several times during his childhood. Towler became a star athlete and disc jockey before he graduated from high school in
South Boston, Virginia. He then studied and joined the R.O.T.C. at
Washington and Lee University. After graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and served in the Korean War. Using his GI Bill benefits, Towler received his law degree from
Georgetown University Law Center, after also clerking for Virginia Senator
William Spong. Towler married his first wife, Elizabeth Davis, in 1965, and they had three sons (John Jr., Grayson and Everett) before her death in an automobile accident. Towler remarried, to Melissa Beam, in 1974, who would survive him.
Career
After admission to the Virginia bar, Towler practiced law in
Roanoke, Virginia and began his lifelong involvement with the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
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. In 1971, Towler won election to the
Virginia House of Delegates, representing the multi-member 7th district alongside Republican Ray Garland, but only served one term, since fellow Democrat Vic Thomas was the top vote-getter in 1973, and thus served alongside Garland and several other politicians in what became a long legislative career.
In 1979, Towler and his wife moved to
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. B ...
where Towler wrote scripts for several television shows, and also acted in some. In 1989, Towler and his wife moved back east to
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
Death and legacy
Towler died in
Barco, North Carolina after suffering a fall.
Virginia Department of Elections-database
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Notes
External links
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1939 births
2015 deaths
Politicians from Charlottesville, Virginia
Washington and Lee University alumni
Georgetown University Law Center alumni
Male actors from Virginia
Writers from Charlottesville, Virginia
Democratic Party members of the Virginia House of Delegates
Military personnel from Virginia
Accidental deaths in North Carolina
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