Howard C. Belton
Encyclopedia
Howard C. Belton was an American farmer from the state of Oregon
. A native of Algona, Iowa
, he served as the nineteenth Treasurer of the State of Oregon after appointment by Oregon Governor Mark O. Hatfield. A Republican, he had previously served one term in the Oregon House of Representatives
and five terms in the Oregon State Senate
.
on January 2, 1893. At seventeen he moved to Los Angeles, California
. In 1915 he enrolled at the Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University
) to study animal husbandry
. He operated a farm in Canby, Oregon
from 1917 to 1960.
Belton was an active member of the Canby community. He served on the Canby Union School Board, was a president of both the Canby Kiwanis Club and Canby Chamber of Commerce, and also a founding board member of the Canby Union Bank.
in 1932, the same year that Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt
beat President Herbert Hoover
in Oregon by twenty-one points.
In 1938 he won a seat in the Oregon State Senate
. Belton sat on the Ways and Means Committee. He served as President of the Oregon State Senate for the 1945–1947 biennium. During the 1945 session Governor Earl Snell
called for legislation to create a Tax Study Committee, with the original purpose of,
State Senator Belton was a member of the Tax Study Committee and their finished report was ready for review by the 1947 legislature.
In 1948 Belton sought the Republican nomination for State Treasurer
and won. He would lose the general election narrowly to Democrat Walter J. Pearson (49.6%–50.3%). He would continue to serve in the Oregon State Senate until his retirement in 1959.
At the request of Governor Mark Hatfield
, Belton came out of his short retirement and was appointed to fill the vacancy created after State Treasurer Sig Unander resigned from office. In the fall of 1960, he won his own term beating Democratic State Senator Ward H. Cook. He would only serve one term as Treasurer before retiring from politics again, serving from January 4, 1960 to January 4, 1965.
Belton was a delegate to the Republican conventions of 1944, 1952 and 1956.
in Salem and a member of the board of trustees of Lewis & Clark College
for 15 years.
Belton was also a member of the Salvation Army
advisory board in Salem from 1963 to 1972 and served as chairman in 1968.
His wife Mae died in 1982. Belton died on November 21, 1988 at the age of 95 due to pneumonia
. He is interred at Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of Algona, Iowa
Algona, Iowa
Algona is a city in and the county seat of Kossuth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,741 at the 2000 census. Ambrose A. Call State Park is located two miles southwest of the city.-History:...
, he served as the nineteenth Treasurer of the State of Oregon after appointment by Oregon Governor Mark O. Hatfield. A Republican, he had previously served one term in the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
and five terms in the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
.
Early life
Belton was born in Algona, IowaAlgona, Iowa
Algona is a city in and the county seat of Kossuth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,741 at the 2000 census. Ambrose A. Call State Park is located two miles southwest of the city.-History:...
on January 2, 1893. At seventeen he moved to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. In 1915 he enrolled at the Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
) to study animal husbandry
Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.- History :Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals....
. He operated a farm in Canby, Oregon
Canby, Oregon
Canby is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 15,829 at the 2010 census. It is located on Oregon Route 99E, two miles northeast of Barlow.-History:...
from 1917 to 1960.
Belton was an active member of the Canby community. He served on the Canby Union School Board, was a president of both the Canby Kiwanis Club and Canby Chamber of Commerce, and also a founding board member of the Canby Union Bank.
Political career
Belton was elected to the Oregon House of RepresentativesOregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
in 1932, the same year that Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
beat President Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
in Oregon by twenty-one points.
In 1938 he won a seat in the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
. Belton sat on the Ways and Means Committee. He served as President of the Oregon State Senate for the 1945–1947 biennium. During the 1945 session Governor Earl Snell
Earl Snell
Earl Willcox Snell was an Oregon businessman American Republican politician, serving in the Oregon House of Representatives, as the Oregon Secretary of State, and as the 23rd Governor of Oregon....
called for legislation to create a Tax Study Committee, with the original purpose of,
“engaging the services of a nationally recognized firm of tax experts for the purpose of a complete survey, examination and analysis of all phases of our tax structure and report to the Legislature with recommendations as to the most attractive, advantageous and equitable tax system consistently possible for Oregon to devise.”
State Senator Belton was a member of the Tax Study Committee and their finished report was ready for review by the 1947 legislature.
In 1948 Belton sought the Republican nomination for State Treasurer
Oregon State Treasurer
The Oregon State Treasurer is a constitutional officer within the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon, elected by statewide vote to serve a four year term. As chief financial officer for the state, the office holder heads the Oregon State Treasury, and with the Governor...
and won. He would lose the general election narrowly to Democrat Walter J. Pearson (49.6%–50.3%). He would continue to serve in the Oregon State Senate until his retirement in 1959.
At the request of Governor Mark Hatfield
Mark Hatfield
Mark Odom Hatfield was an American politician and educator from the state of Oregon. A Republican, he served for 30 years as a United States Senator from Oregon, and also as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee...
, Belton came out of his short retirement and was appointed to fill the vacancy created after State Treasurer Sig Unander resigned from office. In the fall of 1960, he won his own term beating Democratic State Senator Ward H. Cook. He would only serve one term as Treasurer before retiring from politics again, serving from January 4, 1960 to January 4, 1965.
Belton was a delegate to the Republican conventions of 1944, 1952 and 1956.
Later years
In his later years Belton was very productive in his community. He was member of the First Presbyterian ChurchFirst Presbyterian Church
First Presbyterian Church may refer to:-Alabama:...
in Salem and a member of the board of trustees of Lewis & Clark College
Lewis & Clark College
Lewis & Clark College is a private institution of higher learning located in Portland, Oregon. Made up of an undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences, a School of Law, and a Graduate School of Education and Counseling. Lewis & Clark is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges with athletic...
for 15 years.
Belton was also a member of the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
advisory board in Salem from 1963 to 1972 and served as chairman in 1968.
His wife Mae died in 1982. Belton died on November 21, 1988 at the age of 95 due to pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. He is interred at Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem.
Further reading
- Belton, Howard (1977). Under Eleven Governors. Binford & Mort. ISBN 9780832302961.