Ray Thornton
| Ray Thornton | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arkansas's 2nd district |
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In office January 3, 1991 – January 1, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Tommy F. Robinson |
| Succeeded by | Vic Snyder |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arkansas's 4th district |
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In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1979 |
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| Preceded by | David Pryor |
| Succeeded by | Beryl Anthony Jr. |
| Arkansas Attorney General | |
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In office 1971–1973 |
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| Preceded by | Joe Purcell |
| Succeeded by | Jim Guy Tucker |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Raymond Hoyt Thornton Jr. July 16, 1928 Conway, Arkansas |
| Died | April 13, 2016 (aged 87) Little Rock, Arkansas |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Religion | Churches of Christ |
Raymond Hoyt "Ray" Thornton Jr. (July 16, 1928 – April 13, 2016) was an American attorney and politician. He was a Democratic U.S. Representative for Arkansas' 4th congressional district from 1973 to 1979 and the 2nd district from 1991 to 1997.
Thornton was born in Conway, Arkansas. A graduate of Sheridan High School, Thornton earned a degree in political science from Yale University and, later, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas School of Law at Fayetteville, Arkansas. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean War, during which he reached the rank of lieutenant.
Thornton returned to law school after returning from Korea and obtained his law degree in 1956. After election as Arkansas Attorney General in 1970, he was elected two years later to Congress. He defeated fellow Democrat Richard S. Arnold of Texarkana in the primary. Thornton went on to serve three terms in the House. He served as a member of the Judiciary Committee and considered articles of impeachment against U.S. President Richard Nixon. He was among three southern Democrats and four moderate Republicans who drafted the articles adopted by the committee.
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