IKE SKELTON DIES

 

Former Congressman Ike Skelton, 81, a strong supporter of the military who served 17 terms in the U.S. House before losing a re-election bid in 2010, died Monday at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va., surrounded by family and friends. Ike entered the hospital a week earlier with a cough. .

The Lexington native was a Democrat and former chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Ike was born in Lexington, Lafayette County, Dec. 20, 1931. He attended Wentworth Military Academy, Lexington.; graduated from Lexington High School, Lexington, 1949; attended the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, 1953; earned a A.B., University of Missouri, Columbia, 1953 and a LL.B., University of Missouri, Columbia, 1956.

Ike was an attorney in private practice. He was elected Lafayette County Prosecuting Attorney, serving 1957-1960; special assistant attorney general, Missouri state attorney general, 1961-1963; member of the Missouri State Senate, 1971-1977; elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth and to the sixteen succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1977-January 3, 2011); He was the Chairman, Committee on Armed Services (One Hundred Tenth and One Hundred Eleventh Congresses); and unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the One Hundred Twelfth Congress in 2010.

The Missourian strongly and successful championed Whiteman Air Force Base, Fort Leonard Wood and the Missouri Army and Air National Guard. He was an excellent historian and author. Ike was a friend to many in the Henry County region and could call more people by their first names than any other elected official in the state.

Skelton lost to Republican Vicky Hartzler in 2010 in western Missouri's 4th Congressional District. He then joined the law firm of Kansas City-based Husch Blackwell, working in its offices in Kansas City and Washington.

He was a gentleman of the old school and had impeccable manners. Ike was honest, trustworthy and a true American patriot