John W. Bonner
Encyclopedia
John Woodrow Bonner was an attorney and the 13th Governor of Montana.
Bonner was born in Butte, Montana
, graduating from high school in that city, and received his undergraduate and law degrees from Montana State University - now the University of Montana in Missoula.
On February 3, 1929 he married Josephine Martin. The Bonners raised five children - four girls (Jo, Jackie, Billie and Pat) and one son, Tom.
He served as Attorney General of Montana from 1941 to 1942. He resigned as Attorney General to join the U.S. Army during World War II
, attaining the rank of colonel
. After the war, he successfully ran for Governor of Montana as the Democratic Party
candidate. He was governor from 1949 to 1953.
After leaving office as Governor, Bonner practiced law in Helena. He was a Justice of the Montana Supreme Court
from 1968 until his death in 1970. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
.
Bonner was born in Butte, Montana
Butte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
, graduating from high school in that city, and received his undergraduate and law degrees from Montana State University - now the University of Montana in Missoula.
On February 3, 1929 he married Josephine Martin. The Bonners raised five children - four girls (Jo, Jackie, Billie and Pat) and one son, Tom.
He served as Attorney General of Montana from 1941 to 1942. He resigned as Attorney General to join the U.S. Army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, attaining the rank of colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
. After the war, he successfully ran for Governor of Montana as the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate. He was governor from 1949 to 1953.
After leaving office as Governor, Bonner practiced law in Helena. He was a Justice of the Montana Supreme Court
Montana Supreme Court
The Montana Supreme Court is the highest court of the Montana state court system in the U.S. state of Montana. It is established and its powers defined by Article VII of the 1972 Montana Constitution...
from 1968 until his death in 1970. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.