Ray Thornton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
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. |
| 48th Attorney General of Arkansas | |
| In office January 12, 1971 – January 9, 1973 |
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| Governor | Dale Bumpers |
| Preceded by | Joe Purcell |
| Succeeded by | Jim Guy Tucker |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Raymond Hoyt Thornton Jr.
July 16, 1928 Conway, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | April 13, 2016 (aged 87) Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Yale University |
Raymond Hoyt Thornton Jr. (born July 16, 1928 – died April 13, 2016) was an American lawyer and politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Thornton served as a U.S. Representative for Arkansas. He represented the 4th district from 1973 to 1979. Later, he represented the 2nd district from 1991 to 1997.
Contents
Ray Thornton's Life and Career
Early Life and Education
Ray Thornton was born in Conway, Arkansas, on July 16, 1928. His parents were Wilma Stephens and Raymond Thornton. He went to Sheridan High School.
After high school, Thornton studied political science at Yale University. He later earned a law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law. This school is located in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Military Service
Thornton served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. He was on an aircraft carrier called the USS Philippine Sea (CV-47). He reached the rank of lieutenant.
Starting His Public Service
After the war, Thornton returned to law school. He graduated in 1956. That same year, he married Betty Jo Mann. They were married for 60 years.
For many years, Thornton worked as a lawyer for private companies. Then, he decided to work in public service. In 1970, he was elected as the Arkansas Attorney General. This job involves being the chief lawyer for the state of Arkansas.
Serving in Congress: First Time
Two years later, in 1972, Thornton was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He served three terms in the House.
He was an important member of the Judiciary Committee. This committee looked into whether U.S. President Richard Nixon should be removed from office. Thornton helped write the official charges against President Nixon.
Focus on Education Leadership
After his time in Congress, Thornton worked in education. He led a group that helped two universities work together.
From 1980 to 1984, he was the president of Arkansas State University. Then, from 1984 to 1990, he was the president of the entire University of Arkansas System. This means he was in charge of all the University of Arkansas campuses.
Back to Congress: Second Time
In 1990, Thornton ran for Congress again. He won the election for the Little Rock-based Second District. This district included his hometown of Conway.
He served another three terms in Congress. He faced little opposition during these elections.
Becoming a Judge
In January 1997, Thornton left Congress. He then ran for a position as a justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court. He was the only person running for the job, so he won easily.
He served as a justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court from January 1997 to January 2005.
Later Years and Legacy
After retiring from the court, Thornton continued to work in public service. He became a special fellow at the William H. Bowen School of Law.
In 2009, he was chosen to be the first chairman of the Arkansas Lottery Commission. He helped set up the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery. This lottery helps fund scholarships for students in Arkansas. He resigned from this role after one year.
Ray Thornton passed away in Little Rock on April 13, 2016. He was 87 years old.
See also
- U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton – This was a very important court case in 1995. It decided that states cannot set limits on how many terms U.S. Senators and Representatives can serve.
