![ANCExplorer John W](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/ANCExplorer_John_W._Bonner_grave.jpg)
John Woodrow Bonner (July 16, 1902 – March 28, 1970) was an American politician who served as the
13th Governor of Montana from January 3, 1949, to January 4, 1953. He was the first Governor of Montana to be born in the 20th century.
Biography
Bonner was born in
Butte, Montana
Butte ( ) is a consolidated city-county and the county seat of Silver Bow County, Montana, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. The city covers , and, according to the ...
, and graduated from high school in Butte. He received both his undergraduate and law degree from
Montana State University
Montana State University (MSU) is a Public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in Bozeman, Montana. It is the state's largest university. MSU offers baccalaureate degrees in 60 fields, master's degrees in 6 ...
, which is now the
University of Montana
The University of Montana (UM) is a public research university in Missoula, Montana. UM is a flagship institution of the Montana University System and its second largest campus. UM reported 10,962 undergraduate and graduate students in the fal ...
in Missoula. On February 3, 1929, he married Josephine Martin, and had five children, Jo, Jackie, Billie, Pat, and Tom, with her.
Career
He served as counsel for the Montana Highway Commission from 1929 to 1936,
and as attorney for the Railroad and Public Service Commission from 1936 to 1940.
He was
Attorney General of Montana from 1941 to 1942. He resigned as Attorney General to join the
U.S. Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...
as a
Major
Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
, during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. He was promoted to the rank of
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
, and received several medals for courageous service.
After he returned from the War, he ran for
Governor of Montana
The governor of Montana is the head of government of MontanaMontana Constitution, Article VI, Section 4. and the commander-in-chief of the U.S. state, state's Montana National Guard, military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, ...
in
1948, winning the
Democratic primary and advancing to the general election, where he defeated incumbent
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
Governor
Sam C. Ford by a wide margin. Bonner ran for re-election in
1952, and he was narrowly defeated by
State Senator J. Hugo Aronson
John Hugo Aronson (September 1, 1891 – February 25, 1978) was an American businessman and politician from the United States Republican Party, Republican Party and the List of governors of Montana, 14th Governor of the State of Montana.
Biogra ...
. He ran for Governor again in
1956
Events
January
* January 1 – The Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Anglo-Egyptian Condominium ends in Sudan.
* January 8 – Operation Auca: Five U.S. evangelical Christian Missionary, missionaries, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, Jim ...
, but lost the Democratic primary to
Arnold Olsen, who ended up losing to Aronson in the general election. In
1960
It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism.
Events
January
* Ja ...
, when United States Senator
James E. Murray
James Edward Murray (May 3, 1876March 23, 1961) was an American politician and United States Senator from Montana, and a liberal leader of the Democratic Party. He served in the United States Senate from 1934 until 1961.
Background
Born on a f ...
opted not to run for re-election, Bonner ran to succeed him, but, in a crowded primary, was defeated by Congressman
Lee Metcalf
Lee Warren Metcalf (January 28, 1911 – January 12, 1978) was an American lawyer, judge, and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a U.S. Representative (1953–1961) and a U.S. Senator (1961–1978) from Montana. He was th ...
, who would go on to serve in the
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and pow ...
for three terms. From 1968 until his death, he served as an associate justice of the
Montana Supreme Court
The Montana Supreme Court is the supreme court, highest court of the state court system in the U.S. state of Montana. It is established and its powers defined by Article VII of the 1972 Montana Constitution. It is primarily an appellate court wh ...
.
Death
Bonner died on March 28, 1970, and is interred at
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...
in
Arlington, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county is situated in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from the District of Columbia, of which it was once a part. The county is ...
.
Arlington National Cemetery
/ref>
References
External links
State of Montana profile
National Governors Association biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonner, John W.
1902 births
1970 deaths
Democratic Party governors of Montana
Justices of the Montana Supreme Court
United States Army personnel of World War II
United States Army officers
Montana Attorneys General
Montana State University alumni
Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
20th-century American lawyers
20th-century American judges