David P. Buckson
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| David P. Buckson | |
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| January 15, 1963 – January 19, 1971 | |
| Preceded by | Januar D. Bove, Jr. |
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| Succeeded by | W. Laird Stabler, Jr. |
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| December 30, 1960 – January 17, 1961 | |
| Preceded by | J. Caleb Boggs |
| Succeeded by | Elbert N. Carvel |
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| January 15, 1957 – December 30, 1960 | |
| Preceded by | John W. Rollins |
| Succeeded by | Eugene Lammot |
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| Born | July 25, 1920 (age 86) Townsend, Delaware |
| Residence | Camden, Delaware |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Betty Savin Patricia Maloney |
| Profession | lawyer |
| Religion | Methodist |
David Penrose Buckson (born July 25, 1920) is an American lawyer and politician from Camden, in Kent County, Delaware. He is veteran of World War II, and a member of the Republican Party, who served as Lieutenant Governor of Delaware, Governor of Delaware, and Attorney General of Delaware.
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[edit] Early life and family
Buckson was born July 25, 1920 at Townsend, Delaware, son of Leon & Margaret Hutchison Buckson. He first married Betty Savin in 1945, and second Patricia Maloney in 1962 with whom he had four children, Marlee, David, Eric and Kent. They were members of the Methodist Church. He graduated from the University of Delaware in 1941 with a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. During World War II Buckson served in the South Pacific and attained the rank of Major. Afterwards he again took up his legal career, attending Dickinson College Law School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
[edit] Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
In 1955 Buckson was appointed a Judge in the Court of Common Pleas. A year later, in 1956, he was elected Lieutenant Governor, defeating Vernon Derrickson. He served one term from January 15, 1957 to December 30, 1960. At the end of his term, in 1960, he sought the Republican Party nomination for Governor, but lost it to John Rollins. However, he became Governor upon the resignation of Governor J. Caleb Boggs, and served the remaining 18 days of Boggs' second term.
[edit] Delaware politics
In 1962, Buckson was elected Delaware State Attorney General and served two terms, from January 15, 1963 until January 19, 1971. He was a candidate for Governor again in 1964, when he lost to Democratic former Chief Justice Charles L. Terry, Jr., and finally in 1972, when he failed to receive the Republican nomination.
Buckson was later appointed by Governor Sherman W. Tribbitt to be a Judge in the Family Court of Delaware where he earned a reputation for dispatching justice in the most efficient, judicious, and evenhanded of manners.
[edit] Later career
Buckson was the first Delaware attorney to have offices in more than one county. He is widely recognized to have been the philosophical founder of Dover Downs, a volunteer fireman, decorated veteran and officer of World War II, and Commander of a National Guard unit. He has also been City Solicitor for the Delaware municipalities of Newark, Middletown, Townsend, Smyrna, Clayton, and Dover, all at the same time.
| Delaware General Assembly (sessions while Governor) |
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| Year | Assembly | Senate Majority | President pro tempore |
House Majority | Speaker | ||||||
| 1961-1962 | 121st | Democratic | John B. Reilly | Democratic | Sherman W. Tribbitt | ||||||
[edit] Almanac
Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and State Attorney General take office the third Tuesday of January, and have four year terms.
| Public Offices | ||||||
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| Office | Type | Location | Elected | Term began | Term ended | notes |
| Lt. Governor | Executive | Dover | 1956 | January 15, 1957 | December 30, 1960 | |
| Governor | Executive | Dover | December 30, 1960 | January 17, 1961 | Acting | |
| State Attorney General | Executive | Dover | 1962 | January 15, 1963 | January 17, 1967 | |
| State Attorney General | Executive | Dover | 1966 | January 17, 1967 | January 19, 1971 | |
| Election results | ||||||||||||
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| Year | Office | Election | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
| 1956 | Lt. Governor | General | David P. Buckson | Republican | 92,254 | 52% | Vernon B. Derrickson | Democratic | 81,121 | 48% | ||
| 1962 | State Attorney General | General | David P. Buckson | Republican | 77,666 | 51% | John Biggs, III | Democratic | 75,064 | 49% | ||
| 1964 | Governor | General | David P. Buckson | Republican | 97,374 | 49% | Charles L. Terry, Jr. | Democratic | 102,797 | 51% | ||
| 1966 | State Attorney General | General | David P. Buckson | Republican | 96,595 | 59% | Sidney Balick | Democratic | 66,848 | 41% | ||
| 1972 | Governor | Primary | David P. Buckson | Republican | 20,138 | 46% | Russell W. Peterson | Republican | 23,929 | 54% | ||
[edit] References
- Sobel, Robert; J. Racino (1988). Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States 1789-1978. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-930466-00-4.
- Davis, Ned (2000). Charles L. Terry. Wilmington, Delaware: Delaware Heritage Press. OCLC 47186751.
- Martin, Roger A. (1984). History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, Delaware: McClafferty Press.
- Cohen, Celia (2002). Only in Delaware, Politics and Politicians in the First State. Newark, Delaware: Grapevine Publishing.
[edit] Images
- Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery [1] Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover.
[edit] External links
[edit] Places with more information
- Historical Society of Delaware [5] 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware (302) 655-7161
- University of Delaware Library [6] 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 831-2965
