Changes

|succeeded2=Robert Burnett​

|succeeded2=Robert Burnett​

|birth_date=March 22, 1924​

|birth_date=March 22, 1924​

| birth_place=[[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]]<br> Jefferson County<br>[[Alabama]], [[United States|USA]]​

|birth_place=[[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]]<br> Jefferson County<br>[[Alabama]], [[United States|USA]]​

|death_place=Litchfield Park, Maricopa County, [[Arizona]]​

|death_place=Litchfield Park, Maricopa County, [[Arizona]]​

| death_date=February 18, 2002 (aged 77)

|death_date=February 18, 2002 (aged 77)

| residence=Casper, Wyoming​

|residence=Casper, Wyoming​

|spouse=Katharine "Kathy" Hancock Allen Morton<br>​

|spouse=Katharine "Kathy" Hancock Allen Morton<br>​

Father-in-law: Robert Gray Allen

Father-in-law: Robert Gray Allen

*Morton, an [[Ivy League]]-educated [[oil]]man, served fourteen years in the Wyoming House of Representatives, his last two as  the Speaker.​}}

*Morton, an [[Ivy League]]-educated [[oil]]man, served fourteen years in the Wyoming House of Representatives, his last two as  the Speaker.​}}

​

​

'''Warren Allen Morton''' (March 22, 1924 &ndash; February 18, 2002) was an [[oil]]man and [[engineer]] from Casper, [[Wyoming]] who served as Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1979 to 1980, prior to mounting his gubernatorial campaign in 1982. He represented Natrona County in the House from January 1, 1967, to December 31, 1980. Morton was the managing partner of MKM Oil Company in Casper.​

'''Warren Allen Morton''' (March 22, 1924 &ndash; February 18, 2002) was an [[oil]]man and [[engineer]] from Casper, [[Wyoming]], who served as Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1979 to 1980, prior to mounting his gubernatorial campaign in 1982. He represented Natrona County in the House from January 1, 1967, to December 31, 1980. Morton was the managing partner of MKM Oil Company in Casper.​

==Background==

==Background==

==Gubernatorial campaign==​

==Gubernatorial campaign==​

​

​

Morton easily won the [[Republican Party (United States)|GOP]] [[primary]] to challenge two-term [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[Governor]] Edgar  of Kemmerer in Lincoln County. Morton polled 52,536 votes (74.3 percent). Rex G. Welty (1921-1992) of Afton in Lincoln County received 9,106 ballots (12.9), and Earl A. Johnson drew 9,025 (12.8 percent). Nels J. Smith of Sundance in northeastern Wyoming, who had been Morton's predecessor as House Speaker, filed for governor but withdrew before the primary. In a nationally Democratic year, Herschler charged that Morton was a tool of the energy interests.<ref name=fof>''Facts on File Yearbook, 1982'', p. 822.</ref> Morton was active in the Rocky Mountain Oil and Gas Association, having been the president of the [[interest group]] from 1963 to 1965.<ref name=obit/> In addition to his own MKM company, Morton was a director of the American Petroleum Institute and was the Wyoming representative on the Interstate Oil Compact Commission from 1962 to 1972.<ref name=cst/>​

Morton easily won the [[Republican Party (United States)|GOP]] [[primary]] to challenge two-term [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[Governor]] Edgar  of Kemmerer in Lincoln County. Morton polled 52,536 votes (74.3 percent). Rex G. Welty (1921-1992) of Afton in Lincoln County received 9,106 ballots (12.9), and Earl A. Johnson drew 9,025 (12.8 percent). Nels J. Smith of Sundance in northeastern Wyoming, who had been Morton's predecessor as House Speaker, filed for governor but withdrew before the primary. In a nationally Democratic year, Herschler charged that Morton was a tool of the energy interests.<ref name=fof>''Facts on File Yearbook, 1982,'' p. 822.</ref> Morton was active in the Rocky Mountain Oil and Gas Association, having been the president of the [[interest group]] from 1963 to 1965.<ref name=obit/> In addition to his own MKM company, Morton was a director of the American Petroleum Institute and was the Wyoming representative on the Interstate Oil Compact Commission from 1962 to 1972.<ref name=cst/>​

​

​

Morton received 62,128 votes (36.9 percent) to Herschler's 106,427 (63.1 percent). Morton polled only 9,592 more votes in the [[general election]] than he had the primary. Herschler, however, received 62,031 more votes in the final round than he had in the Democratic primary against Pat McGuire. Herschler's plurality over Morton was hence almost numerically the same as Morton's total vote in the general election.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections,'' 1982 gubernatorial primary and general election returns, pp. 1539, 1608.</ref>​

Morton received 62,128 votes (36.9 percent) to Herschler's 106,427 (63.1 percent). Morton polled only 9,592 more votes in the [[general election]] than he had the primary. Herschler, however, received 62,031 more votes in the final round than he had in the Democratic primary against Pat McGuire. Herschler's plurality over Morton was hence almost numerically the same as Morton's total vote in the general election.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections,'' 1982 gubernatorial primary and general election returns, pp. 1539, 1608.</ref>​

​

​

Morton ran nearly twelve percentage points behind [[John C. Ostlund]], a former state senator, who had lost to Herschler in 1978. Of the three Republicans who challenged Herschler, Ostlund had fared best, losing by one percentage point. While Morton lost the governorship, Republican [[U.S. Senator]] [[Malcolm Wallop]] of Sheridan defeated the Democrat former Wyoming state Senator Rodger McDaniel, 57 to 43 percent.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections,'' 1978 and 1982.</ref> McDaniel had been the Wyoming state coordinator for the unsuccessful presidential campaign in 1980 of Senator [[Edward M. Kennedy]] of [[Massachusetts]].<ref name=fof/>​

Morton ran nearly twelve percentage points behind [[John C. Ostlund]], a former state senator, who had lost to Herschler in 1978. Of the three Republicans who challenged Herschler, Ostlund had fared best, losing by one percentage point. While Morton lost the governorship, Republican [[U.S. Senator]] [[Malcolm Wallop]] of Sheridan defeated the Democrat former Wyoming state Senator Rodger McDaniel, 57 to 43 percent.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections,'' 1978 and 1982.</ref> McDaniel had been the Wyoming state coordinator for the unsuccessful presidential campaign in 1980 of Senator [[Edward M. Kennedy]] of [[Massachusetts]].<ref name=fof/>​

  ​

  ​

After his gubernatorial defeat, Morton continued to support Republican candidates in Wyoming, such as U.S. Senators [[Craig L. Thomas|Craig Thomas]], [[Alan K. Simpson]], [[Mike Enzi]], and Malcolm Wallop, as well as his state's GOP organization. In 2000, he also donated to then [[U.S. Representative]] Rick Lazio of [[New York]] in the latter's bid against [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]] for the U.S. Senate. In 1979, Morton contributed to the failed presidential bid of former [[Texas]] [[Governor]] [[John Connally]] before switching his support to [[Ronald W. Reagan]].<ref>Newsmeat, List of Campaign Contributions:http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?zip=82601&last=MORTON&first=WARREN</ref>​

After his gubernatorial defeat, Morton continued to support Republican candidates in Wyoming, such as U.S. Senators [[Craig L. Thomas|Craig Thomas]], [[Alan K. Simpson]], [[Mike Enzi]], and Malcolm Wallop, as well as his state's GOP organization. In 2000, he also donated to then [[U.S. Representative]] Rick Lazio of [[New York]] in the latter's bid against [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]] for the U.S. Senate. In 1979, Morton contributed to the failed presidential bid of former [[Texas]] [[Governor]] [[John Connally]] before switching his support to [[Ronald W. Reagan]].<ref>Newsmeat, List of Campaign Contributions:http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?zip=82601&last=MORTON&first=WARREN</ref>​

==Death and legacy==​

==Death and legacy==​

  ​

  ​

Morton had struggled for four years with [[Alzheimer's disease]] and then developed [[Parkinson's disease]]. Wife Kathy recalls that Morton "had a very good sense of humor about it [Alzheimer's]. He was very open and honest."<ref name=cst/> Morton died at the family's winter residence in Litchfield Park in Maricopa County near [[Phoenix]], [[Arizona]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~colbaugh/WYINFO/casper02B.html|title=Warren Morton obituary|publisher=''Casper Star-Tribune''|date=February 19 2002}}</ref> He was [[cremation|cremated]]. Memorial services were held at St. Mark's Church in Casper on March 2, 2002.​

Morton had struggled for four years with [[Alzheimer's disease]] and then developed [[Parkinson's disease]]. Wife Kathy recalls that Morton "had a very good sense of humor about it [Alzheimer's]. He was very open and honest."<ref name=cst/> Morton died at the family's winter residence in Litchfield Park in Maricopa County near [[Phoenix]], [[Arizona]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~colbaugh/WYINFO/casper02B.html|title=Warren Morton obituary|publisher=''Casper Star-Tribune''|date=February 19 2002}}</ref> He was [[cremation|cremated]]. Memorial services were held at St. Mark's Church in Casper on March 2, 2002.

 

Morton served on the board of trustees of the two-year Casper College, a community college.<ref>Case law, with trustees of Casper College, including Warren Morton as defendants in a suit: http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=10th&navby=case&no=988074</ref> He was involved in numerous community affairs, including the management of a [[Little League]] [[baseball]] team for seven years. He was a director and past president of the Wyoming Heritage Society. He served on the boards of the United Fund, [[Chamber of Commerce]], and St. Mark's [[Episcopal]] Church.<ref name=obit>​

Morton served on the board of trustees of the two-year Casper College, a community college.<ref>Case law, with trustees of Casper College, including Warren Morton as defendants in a suit: http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=10th&navby=case&no=988074</ref> He was involved in numerous community affairs, including the management of a [[Little League]] [[baseball]] team for seven years. He was a director and past president of the Wyoming Heritage Society. He served on the boards of the United Fund, [[Chamber of Commerce]], and St. Mark's [[Episcopal]] Church.<ref name=obit>

​

​

Jim Geringe], who served as governor of Wyoming from 1995 to 2003, issued a statement on Morton's death: "I'm deeply saddened at the news of Warren Morton's passing. [First Lady] Sherri and I extend our sympathy and support to Katharine and the rest of the family. Warren set a high standard for public service with his involvement in community activities as Speaker of the House . . . , as a member of several committees and study groups, including the Tax Reform 2000 Commission, the Wyoming Futures Project, and the 1991 commission that studied judicial salaries. Warren served out of commitment and compassion. He was a true Wyoming statesman, businessman, and family man. We will certainly miss Warren."<ref name=cst/>​

Jim Geringer, a [[Moderate Republican]] who served as governor of Wyoming from 1995 to 2003, issued a statement on Morton's death: "I'm deeply saddened at the news of Warren Morton's passing. [First Lady] Sherri and I extend our sympathy and support to Katharine and the rest of the family. Warren set a high standard for public service with his involvement in community activities as Speaker of the House ..., as a member of several committees and study groups, including the Tax Reform 2000 Commission, the Wyoming Futures Project, and the 1991 commission that studied judicial salaries. Warren served out of commitment and compassion. He was a true Wyoming statesman, businessman, and family man. We will certainly miss Warren."<ref name=cst/>​

==References==

==References==