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Milton H. West

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Milton H. West
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 15th district
In office
April 23, 1933 – October 28, 1948
Preceded byJohn Nance Garner
Succeeded byLloyd Bentsen
Personal details
Born
Milton Horace West

(1888-06-30)June 30, 1888
near Gonzales, Texas
DiedOctober 28, 1948(1948-10-28) (aged 60)
Washington, D.C.
Resting placeBuena Vista Cemetery, Brownsville, Texas
Political partyDemocratic

Milton Horace West (June 30, 1888 – October 28, 1948) was an American lawyer, Texas Ranger and politician who served eight terms as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives representing Texas's 15th congressional district from 1933 until his death in 1948.

Early life

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Milton Horace West was born on a farm near Gonzales, Texas on June 30, 1888. As a child he attended the local public schools in Gonzales County and later enrolled at West Texas Military Academy in San Antonio, Texas. After graduation West served with the Texas Rangers from 1911 to 1912. In 1915, after being admitted to the Texas state bar, he opened his first legal practice in Floresville, Texas.

Political career

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From 1922 to 1925, West served as district attorney for Texas's 28th judicial district and later as assistant district attorney from 1927 to 1930. He won his first public office in 1930 when he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives where he served as a Democrat from 1930 to 1933.

Congress

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In 1933 West became a U.S. Representative when he was elected to replace John Nance Garner after his resignation (due to Garner being elected Vice President).[1] He was later reelected to seven of his own terms in congress. He was reelected unopposed in 1942, 1944, and 1946 and did not stand for reelection in 1948.

Death and burial

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He died in office on October 28, 1948. He was a longtime resident of Brownsville, Texas where his body was buried in Buena Vista Cemetery.

Future U.S. Senator and Secretary of the Treasury Lloyd Bentsen won the special election to fill West's vacant seat.

Electoral history

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1933 Texas's 15th congressional district special election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Milton H. West 13,546 91.20
Republican Carlos G. Watson 1,302 8.80
Total votes 14,848 100.0
Turnout  
Democratic hold
1934 United States House of Representatives elections[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Milton H. West (Incumbent) 20,102 100.00
Total votes 20,102 100.0
Turnout  
Democratic hold
1936 United States House of Representatives elections[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Milton H. West (Incumbent) 29,508 82.53
Independent J.A. Simpson 6,244 17.47
Total votes 35,752 100.0
Turnout  
Democratic hold
1938 United States House of Representatives elections[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Milton H. West (Incumbent) 18,558 99.99
Other write-in votes Write-in votes 2 0.010
Total votes 18,560 100.0
Turnout  
Democratic hold
1940 United States House of Representatives elections[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Milton H. West (Incumbent) 31,800 92.36
Republican J.A. Simpson 2,628 7.64
Total votes 34,428 100.0
Turnout  
Democratic hold
1942 United States House of Representatives elections[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Milton H. West (Incumbent) 12,169 100.00
Total votes 12,169 100.0
Turnout  
Democratic hold
1944 United States House of Representatives elections[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Milton H. West (Incumbent) 36,362 99.98
Other write-in votes Write-in votes 5 0.013
Total votes 36,367 100.0
Turnout  
Democratic hold
1946 United States House of Representatives elections[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Milton H. West (Incumbent) 14,623 99.98
Other write-in votes Write-in votes 3 0.020
Total votes 14,626 100.0
Turnout  
Democratic hold

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Biography of West from the Handbook of Texas". Tshaonline.org. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
  2. ^ 1934 election results
  3. ^ 1936 election results
  4. ^ 1938 election results
  5. ^ 1940 election results
  6. ^ 1942 election results
  7. ^ 1944 election results
  8. ^ 1946 election results
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United States Congress. "WEST, Milton Horace (id: W000304)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 15th congressional district

April 23, 1933 – October 28, 1948
Succeeded by