James R. Lawton
|
James R. Lawton Hon. |
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|---|---|
| Massachusetts Registrar of Motor Vehicles | |
|
In office 1963–1964 |
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| Preceded by | Clement A. Riley |
| Succeeded by | Richard E. McLaughlin |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 8th Plymouth District | |
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In office 1953–1963 |
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| Preceded by | C. Gerald Lucey |
| Succeeded by | James P. Downey |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
October 20, 1925 Brockton, Massachusetts |
| Died | February 3, 2007 (aged 81) Brockton, Massachusetts |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater |
Suffolk University Portia Law School |
| Profession | Attorney Government official Judge |
James R. Lawton was an American jurist and politician who served as a probate judge in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and a Brockton city councilor.
Lawton was born on October 20, 1925 in Brockton to Irish immigrant parents. In 1931, Lawton's father was killed by a hit-and-run driver who was never apprehended. During his youth, Lawton did impersonations of public figures, including Adolf Hitler, Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Eleanor Roosevelt, for money.
He attended Brockton High School until his junior year, when he left to enlist in the United States Army. He served in the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment. On March 24, 1945 he participated in Operation Varsity, the final Allied airborne invasion of Europe. Six days later he was seriously wounded in action in Munster. He spent the next eighteen months in Army hospitals and was discharged in November 1946. He then returned to Brockton High School and graduated. He went on to earn degrees from Suffolk University and Portia Law School (later known as New England School of Law).
In 1947, Lawton was elected to the Brockton City Council. At the age of 22 he the was youngest councilor ever elected in the history of Brockton. In 1950, Lawton was an unsuccessful candidate for a seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He ran again two years later and this time was successful. At the time, he was one of the few Democrats from Plymouth County to serve on Beacon Hill. During his tenure in the House, Lawton served on the Ways & Means Committee, chaired the Committee on Bills in Third Reading, and served as House Chairman on the Commission to Redistrict Legislative, Council & Congressional seats.
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