Chillicothe commemorates Jerry Litton’s life and legacy

CHILLICOTHE, Mo. (KQTV) -- Former U.S. congressman Jerry Litton was honored for the 50th anniversary of his death at the Litton Agri-Science Learning Center in Chillicothe.

Before running for U.S. Senator, Litton served in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Missouri's 6th congressional district from 1973 until he died in 1976.

Litton won the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate with 45% of the vote. On the night of Tuesday, Aug. 3, 1976, Litton and his family were heading to Kansas City to celebrate his win.

Shortly after takeoff from Chillicothe Municipal Airport, the plane crashed into a soybean field, killing the entire Litton family, along with family friend and pilot Paul Ruff Jr. and his son, Paul Ruff III.

Bob Slather, former St. Joseph News-Press reporter, was friends with Litton, and reported on the night of the crash.

"I sat down, and I wrote the story for the morning paper," he said. "Then I just turned it in to the city desk, and walked around the block. Frankly, I cried; we were that close."

Slather said it was difficult to write the article on Litton's death.

"I tried to keep emotion out of it. I was crying inside, but you're still a professional. I tried to be as accurate as possible," he said. "Not just a St. Joseph story or Chillicothe story. I was working on a national story. It was hard to do, but sometimes you have to do it."

More than 400 people showed up to the event to honor Litton. Ed Turner, Litton's friend and fraternity brother, worked to keep Litton's legacy going for the last 50 years.

He was taken aback by the number of people who showed up to the event.

"We could've spent two hours there just talking to people, and they would all have stories. That's what's unique," Turner said. The stories weren't the same. They were different stories of why they were there. That was mind-boggling."

Not only is Litton's legacy being kept alive in Chillicothe, but at the University of Missouri as well. In 1956, Litton attended the University of Missouri and was a student at the College of Agriculture.

The university created the Litton Leadership Scholars Program back in 2012. More than 300 CAFNR students have been part of the program.

Truman the Tiger and Mun Choi, University of Missouri System President, were at the event to honor Litton.

Choi said he wants the students to possess the same qualities as Litton.

"Jerry Litton possessed very important characteristics. Resilience, integrity and always speaking with people," he said. "He wanted to bring the trust back after Watergate, and for him to be able to do that from either side of the political divide was a great testament to his political ability to engage."

Kristi Wyatt worked closely with Jerry Litton on his congressional staff in Washington alongside Turner and now serves on the Litton Foundation, described Litton as extraordinary.

"His new way of doing politics and political things, like 'Dialogue with Litton', nobody was doing that. He was also extraordinary, a pioneer in understanding how to deal with the media, how to use TV to help him market," she said.

Litton is remembered for his accomplishments as a political leader, an advocate for farmers, and a dear friend to many.