John W. Bonner | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 13thGovernor of Montana | |
| In office January 3, 1949 – January 4, 1953 | |
| Lieutenant | Paul C. Cannon |
| Preceded by | Sam C. Ford |
| Succeeded by | J. Hugo Aronson |
| Attorney General of Montana | |
| In office 1941–1942 | |
| Governor | Sam C. Ford |
| Preceded by | Harrison K. Freebourn |
| Succeeded by | Howard M. Gullickson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1902-07-16)July 16, 1902 Butte, Montana, US |
| Died | March 28, 1970(1970-03-28) (aged 67) Helena, Montana, US |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Josephine A. Martin |
| Children | 5 |
| Profession | Attorney |
John Woodrow Bonner (July 16, 1902 – March 28, 1970) was an American politician who served as the13th Governor of Montana from January 3, 1949, to January 4, 1953. He was the first governor of Montana to be born in the 20th century.
Bonner was born inButte, Montana, and graduated from high school in Butte. He received both his undergraduate and law degree fromMontana State University, which is now theUniversity of Montana in Missoula. On February 3, 1929, he married Josephine Martin, and had five children, Jo, Jackie, Billie, Pat, and Tom, with her.
He served as counsel for the Montana Highway Commission from 1929 to 1936,[1] and as attorney for the Railroad and Public Service Commission from 1936 to 1940.[1]
He wasAttorney General of Montana from 1941 to 1942. He resigned as attorney general to join theU.S. Army as aMajor, duringWorld War II. He was promoted to the rank ofcolonel, and received several medals for courageous service.
After he returned from the War, he ran forGovernor of Montana in1948, winning theDemocratic primary and advancing to the general election, where he defeated incumbentRepublican governorSam C. Ford by a wide margin. Bonner ran for re-election in1952, and he was narrowly defeated byState SenatorJ. Hugo Aronson. He ran for governor again in1956, but lost the Democratic primary toArnold Olsen, who ended up losing to Aronson in the general election. In1960, when United States senatorJames E. Murray opted not to run for re-election, Bonner ran to succeed him, but, in a crowded primary, was defeated by CongressmanLee Metcalf, who would go on to serve in theUnited States Senate for three terms. From 1968 until his death, he served as an associate justice of theMontana Supreme Court.
Bonner died on March 28, 1970, and is interred atArlington National Cemetery inArlington, Virginia.[2]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Montana 1948,1952 | Succeeded by |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by | Attorney General of Montana 1941–1942 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Montana 1949–1953 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
