Burton M. Cross | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 61st and 63rd Governor of Maine | |
| In office January 7, 1953 – January 5, 1955 | |
| Preceded by | Nathaniel M. Haskell |
| Succeeded by | Edmund Muskie |
| In office December 24, 1952 – January 6, 1953 | |
| Preceded by | Frederick G. Payne |
| Succeeded by | Nathaniel M. Haskell |
| President of the Maine Senate | |
| In office 1949-1952 | |
| Preceded by | George D. Varney |
| Succeeded by | Nathaniel M. Haskell |
| Member of theMaine Senate | |
| In office 1945-1952 | |
| Member of theMaine House of Representatives | |
| In office 1941-1945 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1902-11-15)November 15, 1902 Augusta, Maine, U.S. |
| Died | October 22, 1998(1998-10-22) (aged 95) Augusta, Maine, U.S. |
| Resting place | Forest Grove Cemetery, Augusta, Maine |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Olena R. Moulton |
| Children | 2 |
| Profession | Florist Insurance broker Stock broker |
Burton Melvin Cross (November 15, 1902 – October 22, 1998) was an AmericanRepublican businessman and politician, the 61st and 63rdgovernor of Maine, though his two terms were separated by just 25 hours.
Born inAugusta, Maine on November 15, 1902,[1][2] Cross graduated fromAugusta's Cony High School in 1920,[2] and became a florist in Augusta.[2]
In 1933, Cross won a seat on the Augusta Common Council[2] and in 1937 he was elected to theBoard of Aldermen,[2] and he served as presiding officer of both bodies.[2] He won a seat in theMaine House of Representatives in 1941,[2] where he served two terms before winning election to theMaine Senate in 1945.[2] He became majority floor leader in 1947 and served asPresident of the Senate from 1949 to 1952.[2]
In1952, Cross won the Republican nomination for Governor and went on to defeat DemocratJames Oliver in the general election by a substantial margin.[2] Cross actually became Governor about two weeks prior to the start of his elected term of office when GovernorFrederick G. Payne resigned on December 25, 1952 to prepare for his upcoming term in theUnited States Senate;[2] Cross, as President of the Senate became Governor through constitutional succession.[2] Cross' term as Senate President (and Governor) expired at 10:00am on January 7, 1953, allowing SenatorNathaniel M. Haskell as the newly elected president of the Senate to serve as governor for 25 hours.[2] At 11:00am on January 8, 1953, Cross' official elected term of office began.[2][3][4][5]
During Cross's term, the state highway commission was reorganized under a full time commissioner, and the state finance office was modernized and brought under closer control of the governor.[6] The state liquor commission was also restructured, following a controversy in which commissioners and employees were accused of accepting bribes from distributors in exchange for carrying certain brands at state-owned liquor stores.[6] Cross also caused dissension in Republican ranks with some of his appointments, including naming an attorney who was a political supporter to the superior court and then to the state supreme court, passing over judges then currently serving on lower courts,[7] and appointing another supporter with minimal law enforcement experience to fill a vacant sheriff's position ahead of the candidate preferred by the party and the voters of the county.[7]
Although personally exonerated in the liquor scandal, a politically wounded Cross was defeated in his reelection bid in1954 by Democratic challenger,Edmund S. Muskie, by 22,375 votes.[2] He was the first Republican to lose a Maine gubernatorial election since1934, when RepublicanAlfred K. Ames was defeated by Democratic incumbentLouis Brann. Cross never sought public office again but returned to private life as an insurance and stock broker until his retirement in 1971.[2]
Cross died in Augusta on October 22, 1998;[6] he was buried at Forest Grove Cemetery in Augusta.[6]
Cross was married to Olena R. Moulton;[6] they were the parents of two children.[6]
In 2001, after major renovations, the Maine State Office Building was dedicated to Cross. A plaque in his honor is located in the second floor lobby.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of Maine 1952,1954 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Maine 1952–1953 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of Maine 1953–1955 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
