Margaret E. Morton facts for kids

Margaret Elizabeth Morton (born June 23, 1924 – died March 10, 2012) was an important American politician. She also worked as a funeral director. Margaret Morton served in the government of Connecticut for many years. She was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1973 to 1980. After that, she served in the Connecticut State Senate from 1981 to 1993.

Margaret Morton was the first African American woman to serve in the Connecticut General Assembly. This is the name for Connecticut's state government. She worked hard to represent the city of Bridgeport. She was a member of the Democratic Party.

Margaret Morton's Early Life

Margaret Elizabeth Woods was born on June 23, 1924. Her hometown was Pocahontas, Virginia. Her parents were Aaron and Leona Woods. She grew up in Bluefield, West Virginia. Margaret was a very good student and finished high school with top honors.

In 1941, she married James Morton. They moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut. James Morton was one of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. These were brave African American military pilots. In 1956, Margaret and James started their own business. It was called Morton's Mortuary, a funeral home. Today, her son Robert L. Morton runs the funeral home. It is located on Margaret E. Morton Lane in Bridgeport.

Her Political Career

Margaret Morton was a strong voice for the people of Bridgeport. She became an assistant majority leader in the House. This meant she helped lead her political party. Later, she became the deputy president pro tempore in the Senate. This was a very high position.

In 1980, she decided to run for the State Senate. She went against a powerful mayor in Bridgeport. Margaret Morton worked hard to get people to register to vote. She won the Democratic primary election by only eight votes. She also won a legal challenge to her victory.

Margaret Morton cared deeply about fairness. She worked to stop unfair treatment against people with HIV/AIDS. This was important to her because her son, Gerald, had passed away. She wanted to make sure everyone was treated with respect.

Honoring Margaret Morton

Margaret Morton's work made a lasting impact. In 2012, a building in Bridgeport was named after her. It is called the Margaret E. Morton Government Center. This building is part of the Bridgeport City Hall.

In 2017, she was nominated for the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame. This honor recognizes women who have made a big difference in Connecticut. In 2020, USA Today newspaper recognized her. They chose her as one of ten "Women of the Century" from Connecticut. This showed how important her contributions were to the state.