Thornton, Dan, 1911-1976

Daniel Thornton was born and raised in Tex. in 1911. He attended Texas Technological University for two years and earned his degree at UCLA. Thornton began ranching in 1937 in Springerville, Ariz. He later established the White Mountain Hereford Ranch in the early 1940s when he and his wife, Jessie Willock, moved to Gunnison, Colo. Here they established the Thornton Ranch where he developed the Triumphant Type Hereford. Thornton sold two of his bulls for a record $50,000 each in the 1945 National Western Stock Show. In 1948, he ran unopposed for the Colo. State Senate and held the seat until 1950, when he was elected Governor. While in office, Governor Thornton attended the annual Governor's Conferences. After two terms in office, from 1951 to 1955, he chose not to seek a third term. An ardent advocate and friend of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Thornton campaigned for his election to the US Presidency and nominated the General at the Republican National Convention. President Eisenhower appointed Thornton to numerous committees. He remained active in public and personal projects until his death in 1976.

From the description of Governor Daniel Thornton papers 1929-2001 [manuscript]. (Denver Public Library). WorldCat record id: 44451990

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