Howard Britt
Howard Leslie Britt | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 19th district | |
| In office January 6, 1953 – September 24, 1953 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas H. Adams |
| Succeeded by | Fay Britt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1887 near Seward, Nebraska |
| Died | (aged 66) |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Education | Cotner College (A.B.) |
| Occupation | Automobile dealer |
Howard Leslie Britt (1887 – September 24, 1953) was a Republican politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 19th district from January to September 1953.
Early life
[edit]Britt was born near Seward, Nebraska, in 1887.[1] He graduated from Seward High School in 1903, and graduated from Cotner College with his bachelor's degree in 1909.[1] He helped organize the lyceum and chatauqua movement in the state from 1909 to 1915, and later owned and operated an automobile dealership in Lincoln.[1]
Nebraska Legislature
[edit]In 1942, State Senator Jack Price did not seek re-election in the Lancaster County-based 19th district,[2] and Britt ran to succeed him.[3] In the primary election, he faced former State Senator George I. Craven, and Thomas H. Adams and George Milliken, both of whom were attorneys.[4][5][6] Britt placed third in the primary election, receiving 15 percent to Craven's 48 percent, Adams's 25 percent, and Milliken's 12 percent.[7] Craven ultimately won the election, defeating Adams by a 51–49 percent margin.[7]
When Craven declined to seek re-election in 1944,[8] Britt ran again, and faced Lincoln City Councilman Rees Wilkinson, Adams, former State Representative James Lundy, machinist Joseph Charles Dale, and Harry Easton in the primary election.[9][8][10] Wilkinson placed first by a wide margin, receiving 41 percent of the vote, and Adams narrowly defeated Britt for second place, receiving 19 percent of the vote to Britt's 16 percent.[11] Adams narrowly defeated Wilkinson in the general election.[11]
In 1946, Adams ran for re-election to a second term,[12] and Britt ran against him, as did Dale and Wilkinson.[13] Britt placed third, receiving 15 percent of the vote to Adams's 37 percent and Wilkinson's 41 percent.[14] Adams ultimately won re-election,[14] and was re-elected in 1948 and 1950.
Britt challenged Adams for re-election in 1952, and was joined in the primary by insurance agent F. M. Stapleton.[15][16] Adams placed first in the primary, receiving 54 percent of the vote to Britt's 30 percent and Stapleton's 16 percent.[17] Adams and Britt advanced to the general election. In what the Lincoln Evening Journal called a "major surprise," Britt narrowly defeated Adams, winning 53 percent of the vote to Adams's 47 percent.[18][17]
After the 1953 legislative session, he and his wife, Fay Britt, were traveling to Vancouver for vacation, when he became ill on August 28, and was admitted to the Providence Hospital in Everett, Washington.[19] Britt died on September 24, 1953.[19] Governor Robert B. Crosby ultimately appointed Fay to serve out the remainder of Britt's term in 1954.
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Nebraska Blue Book 1954 (PDF). Nebraska Legislative Council. 1955. p. 268. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Only two fail of unicameral renomination". Evening State Journal. Lincoln, Nebraska. August 17, 1942. p. 7. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Ruth Griffin first woman to file for seat in unicameral". Evening State Journal. Lincoln, Nebraska. July 1, 1942. p. 2. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Thomas Adams of Lincoln file for unicameral". Evening State Journal. Lincoln, Nebraska. April 18, 1942. p. 2. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Craven files for seat in unicameral". Evening State Journal. Lincoln, Nebraska. July 1, 1942. p. 8. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "G. H. Milliken files from the 19th district". Nebraska State Journal. Lincoln, Nebraska. May 16, 1942. p. 9. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Marsh, Frank (1942). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, Held August 11, 1942, General Election, Held November 3, 1942 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- 1 2 "Lundy is candidate from 19th district". Lincoln Evening State Journal. January 24, 1944. p. 3. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Trio in county file for seats". Lincoln Evening State Journal. February 21, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Who's Who in the Primary". Evening World-Herald. Omaha, Nebraska. March 29, 1944. p. 16. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Marsh, Frank (1944). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, April 11, 1944, General Election, November 7, 1944 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Adams Files Again for Post in Senate". Evening World-Herald. January 17, 1946. p. 3. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Filings Pour In As Gates Swing Shut". McCook Daily Gazette. April 13, 1946. p. 1. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Marsh, Frank (1946). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, June 11, 1946, General Election, November 5, 1946 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Howard L. Britt Files For Unicam". Lincoln Star. February 22, 1952. p. 2. Retrieved April 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "No Opponents for McNutt, Liebers". Lincoln Evening Journal. February 22, 1952. p. 4. Retrieved April 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Marsh, Frank (1952). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, April 1, 1952, General Election, November 4, 1952 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Britt's Victory Over Adams Is Major Legislative Surprise". Lincoln Evening Journal. November 5, 1952. p. 1. Retrieved April 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 "Senator Britt Of Lincoln Dies in West". Lincoln Evening Journal. September 25, 1953. p. 1. Retrieved April 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.