Rep. Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) addresses over 300 attendees Sunday at a ceremony recognizing the life and legacy of former Congressman Jerry Litton, who died in a plane crash Aug. 3, 1976 as he and his family were heading to Kansas City. (Photo by Kyle Hill, KMMO News)

A packed MW Jenkins Expo Center in Chillicothe paid tribute Sunday, Aug. 2 to the life and legacy of Jerry Litton, whose plane crash the evening of Aug. 3, 1976 cut short the life of the Northern Missouri Congressman.

The hour-long ceremony included remarks from Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn, outgoing Congressman Sam Graves, and University of Missouri System President Dr Mun Choi. The three joined Litton Leadership Scholar alumna Carley McLean and Litton’s former Chief of Staff Ed Turner on stage to reflect on the legacy of Litton, the one-time FFA National Secretary who raised Charolais cattle at his family farm before embarking on his political career. Litton and his family were on their way to Kansas City to accept the Democratic nomination for an open U.S. Senate seat, when his plane crashed just after takeoff from Chillicothe’s airport.

After the ceremony, Graves explained how he believed Litton resonated with so many Missourians, even a half-century later.

Turner, who now leads the Litton Family Foundation, added that Litton’s ability to communicate with his constituents was unparalleled.

The University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources co-sponsored Sunday’s event, with the school’s ambassadors present alongside Truman the Tiger. President Choi says Litton, who studied agriculture and journalism at Mizzou, remains an example for the type of the leader Mizzou seeks to prepare.

A number of dignitaries including current and former congressmen, state legislators, and candidates seeking to represent the district once served by Litton spent the afternoon at the Litton Agri-Science Learning Center to tour the facility and reflect on his legacy.