Dewey Hilton Waits was born on 18 May 1898 in Mantachie, Mississippi. His father, John A. Waits, was an attorney in Leland, Mississippi, where the family moved in 1915. Hilton Waits earned a B.A., J.D., and M.A. in Political Science from the University of Mississippi. He wrote his 1932 M.A. thesis on tax law. After finishing his master's, he returned to Leland and took up the practice of law, representing among others the Washington County Board of Supervisors. In 1928, Washington County elected Hobson Waits, Hilton's brother, to the Mississippi House of Representatives. When Hobson Waits passed away in 1931, Hilton Waits received an appointment to complete his brother's term in office. A few months later, voters elected him to that same office, which he held until 1960. Waits became the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee in 1944, giving him a great deal of influence, particularly over tax legislation. In 1960, Waits lost reelection race to Deloach Cope, but returned to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1964. Waits died on 7 May 1964.
From the description of Hilton Waits Collection, 1923-1964 (bulk 1944-1964) (University of Mississippi). WorldCat record id: 433169752
