Honoring Former Senators in Memorial Service Scheduled for Mid-April

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., March 18 -- The Missouri State Senate issued the following news release:

The Senate continues to recognize former members of the upper chamber in a Memorial Service scheduled for Monday, April 14, 2014, at 1:30 p.m. Sixty distinguished former members of the upper body, who passed away after May 1987, will be honored during the service, including those who served the constituents of Senatorial Districts 8-14.

Keith P. Bondurant (1914-1993)

Senator Bondurant served the people of the 10th District (part of Jackson County). Born in Great Bend, Kansas, he received his education from Great Bend elementary and high schools; Washburn College from 1931-1933; graduated cum laude from the College of Emporia in 1935 with a Bachelor of Arts degree; and the University of Michigan Law School in 1938 with a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree. Senator Bondurant practiced law in Illinois, Tennessee and Missouri. From 1942-1946, he served in the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific Theater as an Armed Guard commander during World War II. He later returned to civilian life with the rank of lieutenant commander. Senator Bondurant was elected to the Senate in 1962. In 1965, he resigned from the Senate and was appointed as a judge in the Judicial Circuit No. 16, Div. 6. (Republican) Frank P. Briggs (1894-1992)

Senator Briggs served the people of the 9th District (Adair, Macon and Shelby counties). Born in Armstrong, he attended public schools in Armstrong; Central College in Fayette; and graduated from the University of Missouri in 1915. Senator Briggs served as the mayor of Macon for two terms. He was first elected to the Senate in 1932, and re-elected in 1940 for a third term. Senator Briggs was elected to serve as President Pro Tem of the 61st General Assembly by Resolution No. 15. He resigned in 1945 when appointed to U.S. Senate to replace Harry S Truman. (Democrat)

Hardin Charles Cox (1928-2013)

Senator Cox served the people of the 12th District (Adair, Andrew, Atchison, Caldwell, Daviess, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Mercer, Nodaway, Putnam, Schuyler, Scotland, Sullivan and Worth counties). Born in Rock Port, he received his education from the University of Missouri-Columbia earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business and public administration. Senator Cox operated insurance and real estate agencies for nearly three decades. He served in the U.S. Army in the Japan Occupation Force Signal Corps as a corporal; and the U.S. Artillery in Korea as a first lieutenant. Senator Cox was elected to the House of Representatives in 1964, and was re-elected in 1966, 1968, 1970 and 1972. He was elected to the Senate in 1974, and again in 1978. During that time he served as Assistant Majority Floor Leader. (Democrat)

Phil B. Curls, Sr. (1942-2007)

Senator Curls served the people of the 9th District (part of Jackson County). Born in Kansas City, he received his education from De La Salle High School and Rockhurst College in Kansas City. Senator Curls was a real estate broker and appraiser. He served in the House of Representatives from 1972-1983. Senator Curls was elected to the Senate in a special election in 1983. (Democrat)

Ronnie DePasco (1943-2003)

Senator DePasco served the people of the 11th District (part of Jackson County). He received his education from Maple Woods Junior College and Rockhurst College. Senator DePasco served as vice president of the Jackson County Industrial Development Authority; and on the board of the Missouri Peace Officers Association. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1976 and served until 1992. Senator DePasco was elected to the Senate in 1992, serving as Majority Floor Leader from 1998-2000 and as Assistant Minority Floor Leader from 2001-2002. (Democrat)

William J. Esely (1932-1998)

Senator Esely served the people of the 12th District (Adair, Andrew, Atchison, Caldwell, Daviess, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Mercer, Nodaway, Putnam, Schuyler, Scotland, Sullivan and Worth counties). Born in Stewartsville, he received his education from Clinton County public schools in Stewartsville, graduating from high school in 1950. Senator Esely attended the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he earned an Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1954, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 1959. He was a lawyer, owner of abstraction companies and had interests in farming. Senator Esely enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1954 and discharged in 1956 as a lieutenant. He was elected to the Senate in 1970. (Republican)

Floyd R. Gibson (1910-2001)

Senator Gibson served the people of the 8th District (part of Jackson County). Born in Prescott, Arizona, he moved to Jackson County in 1914, received his education from Kansas City elementary and high schools, and graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1931; and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1933. Senator Gibson practiced law in Jackson County starting in 1933. He served as county counselor of Jackson County. Senator Gibson also served as a major in the Third Missouri Infantry in the Missouri State Guard. He was elected to the House in 1940, 1942 and 1944. Senator Gibson was elected to the Senate in 1946, and re-elected in 1950, 1954 and 1958. He served as Majority Floor Leader in the 67th and 68th General Assemblies, and was elected President Pro Tem of the Senate in the 69th and 70th General Assemblies. Senator Gibson resigned from his service in the Senate and was appointed to serve as judge on the U.S. District Court, Western District, in 1961. (Democrat)

Charles L. Madison (1915-1998)

Senator Madison served the people of the 10th District (part of Jackson County). Born in Independence, he received his education from Kansas City public schools; Missouri Military Academy in Mexico; Westminster College in Fulton; Colorado University; and the University of Kansas City Law School where he received his Bachelor of Laws degree. Senator Madison was admitted to the bar in 1942 and began practicing law in Kansas City. He served in the U.S. Marines from 1943-1946. Senator Madison was a member of the House of Representatives from 1941-1942. He was elected to the Senate in 1946, and re-elected in 1950 and 1954. Senator Madison resigned in 1955 to take a post with the U.S. Department of Interior in Alaska. (Republican) Donald L. Manford (1934-1991)

Senator Manford served the people of the 8th District (part of Jackson County). Born in Kansas City, he received his education from Kansas City public schools; and University of Kansas City, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and government and a Bachelor of Laws degree. Senator Manford was an attorney and served in the U.S. Navy from 1952-1956 during the Korean War. Senator Manford was elected to the House of Representatives in 1966 and to the Senate in 1968 to fill an unexpired term. He was re-elected in 1970 and 1974. (Democrat)

Henry A. Panethiere (1914-2005)

Senator Panethiere served the people of the 11th District (part of Jackson County). Born in Kansas City, he attended the University of Missouri-Columbia where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics. Senator Panethiere also attended the university's School of Law, earning a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in Spain and Thinian, attending the rank of major-infantry. Senator Panethiere worked as an attorney. He was first elected to the Senate in 1976. (Democrat)

Maurice Schechter (1907-2001)

Senator Schechter served the people of the 13th District (part of St. Louis County). Born in St. Louis, he received his education from East St. Louis, Illinois, public schools; Washington University; and City College of Law and Finance, earning a Bachelor of Laws degree. Senator Schechter began practicing law in 1928. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1934, and re-elected in 1936 and 1938. Senator Schechter was elected to the Senate in 1960, 1964, 1968 and 1972. (Democrat)

Lee Vertis Swinton (1922-1994)

Senator Swinton served the people of the 9th District (part of Jackson County). Born in Dardanelle, Arkansas, he received his education from Coffeyville, Kansas schools; Pittsburg State College; and the University of Missouri-Kansas City, earning Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Jurisprudence degrees. Senator Swinton was a lawyer. He was an overseas veteran of World War II; an assistant county counselor; and served six years on the Jackson County Legislature (one year as a chairman). Senator Swinton was elected to the Senate in 1980. (Democrat) James M. Taylor (1920-2013)

Senator Taylor served the people of the 8th District (part of Jackson County). Born in Pleasant Hill, he received his education from Kansas City public schools. In 1945, he began work in sales for the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. Senator Taylor served two and a half years in the U.S. Air Force; six of those months with the 15th Air Force in Italy as a navigator. He was discharged as a captain. In a special election held in 1962, Senator Taylor was elected to the Senate to fill an unexpired term. He was re-elected later that year. (Republican)

Harry Wiggins (1932-2004)

Senator Wiggins served the people of the 10th District (part of Jackson County). Born in Kansas City, he received his education from Rockhurst College, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree; and St. Louis University, earning a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree. Senator Wiggins was an assistant U.S. district attorney in Western Missouri; State Liquor Control supervisor; Jackson County Court Western Judge; and general counsel for the Public Service Commission. He was elected to the Senate in 1974 and served as Assistant Majority Floor Leader from1979-1981; and Majority Floor Leader from 1981-1998. (Democrat)

Harriett Woods (1927-2007)

Senator Woods served the people of the 13th District (part of St. Louis County). Born in Cleveland, Ohio, she attended the University of Chicago College and the University of Michigan where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy. Senator Woods was a newspaper reporter and television producer in St. Louis. She was elected to the Senate in 1976, and re-elected in 1980. Senator Woods went on to serve as the 42nd Lieutenant Governor of Missouri; the state's first, and currently only, female in this leadership position. (Democrat)

To see a complete list of former senators that will be honored at the Senate's Memorial Service on April 14, 2014, please visit www.senate.mo.gov and click on the Memorial Service Information link (http://www.senate.mo.gov/Newsroom/Pages/Memorial-2013/Home.html) located on the bottom left-hand side of the page.

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