Hilary Ashby Bush (June 21, 1905 – May 20, 1992) was a Democratic Party politician who was Jackson County, Missouri prosecutor in the 1940s and 1950s, and the 37th lieutenant governor from 1961 to 1965, serving under Governor John M. Dalton. Bush played an influential role in the merger of the University of Kansas City with the University of Missouri system to form the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Hilary A. Bush
Lieutenant Governor of Missouri
In office
January 9, 1961 – January 11, 1965
GovernorJohn M. Dalton
Preceded byEdward V. Long
Succeeded byThomas Eagleton
Personal details
Born
Hilary Ashby Bush

(1905-06-21)June 21, 1905
Excelsior Springs, Missouri, U.S.
DiedMay 20, 1992(1992-05-20) (aged 86)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic

Biography

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Bush was born on June 21, 1905, in Excelsior Springs, Missouri.[1] He graduated from William Jewell College in 1926,[2] and from the University of Kansas City Law School in 1932. He rose to lieutenant colonel in the Army during World War II and was Military Governor of Aomori Prefecture in Japan in 1945.

In 1960, lieutenant governor incumbent Edward V. Long resigned after being appointed to the U.S. Senate left vacant by the death of Thomas C. Hennings, Jr. Bush became the "establishment" candidate backed by remnants of the Thomas Pendergast political machine for lieutenant governor. In 1964, he was the Democrat establishment candidate for governor but was defeated in the primary by 59,386 votes by Warren Hearnes who said in his campaign, "At one time all Missouri was controlled from Kansas City by a man named Pendergast. This type of machine politics should never be allowed to rear its ugly head again in Missouri politics."[3]

Hilary A. Bush died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 20, 1992, while visiting family. He was cremated.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Excelsior Springs Museum & Archives, Excelsior Springs, MO - Famous People". Exsmo.com. Retrieved 2015-07-24.
  2. ^ The Forensic of Pi Kappa Delta. 2009-06-01. Retrieved 2015-07-24.
  3. ^ Larsen, Lawrence Harold (1971). A History of Missouri. ISBN 9780826215468. Retrieved 2015-07-24.
  4. ^ "Hilary A. Bush; Was Lieutenant Governor". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 1992-05-22. p. 17A.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Missouri
1960
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Missouri
1961–1965
Succeeded by