Jerry L. Litton
| Jerry Litton | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 6th district |
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In office January 3, 1973 – August 3, 1976 |
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| Preceded by | William Raleigh Hull, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Earl Thomas Coleman |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jerry Lon Litton May 12, 1937 Lock Springs, Missouri |
| Died | August 3, 1976 (aged 39) Chillicothe, Missouri |
| Resting place | Chillicothe, Missouri |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Sharon Litton |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Missouri |
Jerry Lon Litton (May 12, 1937 – August 3, 1976) was a Democratic U.S. Representative from Missouri who died with his wife and two children while en route via a small plane to the victory party after winning Missouri's state Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.
Litton was born near Lock Springs, Daviess County, Missouri in a house without electricity. He was national secretary of the Future Farmers of America (1956–1957). He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1961 with a B.S. in Journalism. Litton was president of the University of Missouri Young Democrats and chair of the National Youth for Symington during Stuart Symington's unsuccessful 1960 run for U.S. President. He served as President of the local Columbia chapter of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity.
Litton made his fortune raising cattle at the Litton Charolais Cattle Ranch in Chillicothe, Missouri. This ranch was maintained as a beautiful showplace where Litton entertained both the well connected and constituents. Litton made a point to bring school children and low level local leaders to his home. Before he began his political career, he was active in promoting youth involvement in leadership in agriculture and rural communities. His family (including his parents, Mildred and Charlie Litton) was very prominent in the Charolais business.
Litton was elected to the U.S. House as a Democrat in 1972. He was considered a rising star in the Democratic Party and his television show Dialogue with Litton was broadcast statewide. Among the guests were Jimmy Carter, Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz, Congressman Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, and House Speaker Carl Albert.
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