David P. Buckson

David Buckson
Attorney General of Delaware
In office January 15, 1963 – January 19, 1971
Governor	Elbert Carvel Charles L. Terry Jr. Russell W. Peterson
Preceded by	Januar Bove
Succeeded by	Laird Stabler
63rd Governor of Delaware
In office December 30, 1960 – January 17, 1961
Lieutenant	Vacant
Preceded by	J. Caleb Boggs
Succeeded by	Elbert Carvel
15th Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
In office January 15, 1957 – December 30, 1960
Governor	Caleb Boggs
Preceded by	John Rollins
Succeeded by	Eugene Lammot
Personal details
Born	David Penrose Buckson (1920-07-25)July 25, 1920 Townsend, Delaware, U.S.
Died	January 17, 2017(2017-01-17) (aged 96) Milford, Delaware, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Betty Savin Patricia Maloney
Children	Eric Buckson (son)
Education	University of Delaware, Newark (BA) Pennsylvania State University, Carlisle (LLB)

David Penrose Buckson (July 25, 1920 – January 17, 2017) was an American lawyer and politician from Camden in Kent County, Delaware. He was a veteran of World War II and a member of the Republican Party, who served as the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Delaware, for nineteen days the 63rd Governor of Delaware and the 37th Attorney General of Delaware.

Early life and family

Buckson was born in Townsend, Delaware, the son of Leon and Margaret Hutchison Buckson. He first married Betty Savin in 1945 with whom he had two children, Deborah Gray, and Brian Roth. His second wife was Patricia Maloney, whom he married in 1962 and with whom he had four children, Marlee, David, Eric, and Kent. They were members of the Methodist Church. He graduated from the University of Delaware in 1941 with a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. During World War II Buckson served in the South Pacific and attained the rank of major. Afterwards he resumed legal studies, at Dickinson College Law School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Buckson is the founder of Dover Downs, opening in 1969 a harness racing track that was also encompassed by the NASCAR race track which began racing the same year. Buckson died on January 17, 2017, at the Delaware Veterans Home in Milford, Delaware.

Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Delaware

Buckson as lieutenant governor

He was appointed a judge in the Court of Common Pleas in 1955. A year later, he was elected lieutenant-governor, defeating Vernon Derrickson. He served one term from January 15, 1957, to December 30, 1960. Near the end of his term, in 1960, he sought the Republican Party nomination for governor, but lost it to John W. Rollins. However, he became governor when Governor J. Caleb Boggs resigned to start his first U.S. Senate term, and served the remaining 18 days of Boggs' second term.

Professional and political career

Buckson was elected Delaware's attorney-general in 1962 and served two terms, from January 15, 1963, to January 19, 1971. He ran for governor again in 1964 but lost to Democratic former Chief Justice Charles L. Terry Jr., and in 1972, when he failed to receive the Republican nomination.

Buckson was later appointed by Governor Sherman W. Tribbitt to be a judge in the Family Court of Delaware.

Buckson was the first Delaware attorney to have offices in more than one county. He was the founder of Dover Downs, a volunteer fireman, a decorated World War II officer, and commander of a National Guard unit. Buckson was also simultaneously city solicitor for the Delaware municipalities of Newark, Middletown, Townsend, Smyrna, Clayton, and Dover.

Buckson died on January 17, 2017, in Milford, at age 96. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living state governor.

Delaware General Assembly (session while Governor)
Year	Assembly	Senate Majority	President pro tempore	House Majority	Speaker
1961	120th	Democratic	Allen J. Cook	Democratic	Sherman W. Tribbitt

Public Offices
Office	Type	Location	Began office	Ended office	notes
Lt. Governor	Executive	Dover	January 15, 1957	December 30, 1960	Delaware
Governor	Executive	Dover	December 30, 1960	January 17, 1961	Delaware
Attorney General	Executive	Dover	January 15, 1963	January 17, 1967	Delaware
Attorney General	Executive	Dover	January 17, 1967	January 19, 1971	Delaware

Election results
Year	Office	Election		Subject	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%
1956	Lt. Governor	General		David P. Buckson	Republican	92,254	52%		Vernon B. Derrickson	Democratic	81,121	48%
1962	Attorney General	General		David P. Buckson	Republican	77,666	51%		John Biggs, III	Democratic	75,064	49%
1964	Governor	General		David P. Buckson	Republican	97,374	49%		Charles L. Terry Jr.	Democratic	102,797	51%
1966	Attorney General	General		David P. Buckson	Republican	96,595	59%		Sidney Balick	Democratic	66,848	41%
1972	Governor	Primary		David P. Buckson	Republican	20,138	46%		Russell W. Peterson	Republican	23,929	54%

References

• Davis, Ned (2000). Charles L. Terry. Wilmington, Delaware: Delaware Heritage Press. OCLC 47186751.
• Martin, Roger A. (1984). History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, Delaware: McClafferty Press.

Images

• Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery; Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover.

External links

• Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States
• Delaware’s Governors
• The Political Graveyard
• Delaware Historical Society; website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161
• University of Delaware; Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831–2965