- Jim Spainhower
Jim Spainhower (born
August 3 ,1928 ) is a U.S. politician fromMissouri . He served as a representative on the Missouri House of Representatives and later became the treasurer for the state of Missouri.Early life
Jim Spainhower was born in
Stanberry, Missouri . He attended in elementary school in Stanberry, and attended Maryville High School inMaryville, Missouri , graduating in 1946. Following graduation from high school, he attendedPhillips University inEnid, Oklahoma , earning a bachelor's degree in history in 1950. Three years later, in 1953, he earned a bachelor's degree in divinity fromLexington Theological Seminary . OnJune 10 ,1950 , he married the former Joanne Steanson ofPonca City, Oklahoma . The couple has two children. Prior to entering politics, he worked as an ordainedDisciples of Christ minister.Political career
From 1963 to 1970, he served in the
Missouri House of Representatives , where he was a member of the House Appropriations Committee and Chairman of the House Education Committee. During his tenure in the state legislature, he also earned master's and doctoral degrees in political science from theUniversity of Missouri–Columbia . In 1972, he was elected asState Treasurer of Missouri , and served from 1973 to 1981 in that post. Unable to seek a third term in 1980, he was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor, losing the Democratic Party nomination to incumbentJoseph P. Teasdale . Following his tenure as State Treasurer, he moved toRogers, Arkansas .Spainhower briefly broke with the Democratic Party in 1992, endorsing
Ross Perot for President in June.References
* [http://www.treasurer.missouri.gov/history/jamesispainhower.html Missouri State Treasurer-Past Treasurer's Biography]
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