REP.
J.M. (JIM) WHORTON
92nd General Assembly
Rep. Jim Whorton, a
Democrat, represents Daviess, Grundy, Harrison and Mercer counties and parts of
Sullivan, Gentry and Worth counties (District 3) in the Missouri House of
Representatives.
Rep. Whorton was
elected in 2001 to fill an unexpired term and re-elected in November 2002.
In addition to his
legislative duties, Rep. Whorton owns and operates Trenton Auto Sales with his
wife Beverly. He also grows Christmas
trees in Minnesota and co-owns and operates the family farm near Hickory, which
has been in the Whorton family over 100 years.
Previously he served nine years in the USANG and Reserves, with
specialties in aviation maintenance, military police and army security
agency. He resigned his commission of
CW2.
Active in party
politics including serving as district and state convention delegate with the
DFL (Democratic Farm Labor) Party in Minnesota, Rep. Whorton worked for 30
years in forestry and natural resources in South Missouri, West Virginia and
Minnesota.
Rep. Whorton
is a past or present member of the following organizations: Wesley United
Methodist Church; Trenton Masonic Lodge #111; Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce;
National Rifle Association, life member; Trenton American Legion Post #31;
Trenton Elk’s Lodge #801; and the Grundy County & Missouri Farm Bureau. He
was elected to five consecutive terms as school board director in Carlton,
Minn., and served in various offices, including club president of Lions Club in
Richwood, W. Va. He assisted in chartering a new Lions Club at Cook, Minn. Rep. Whorton was also a member of the
Society of American Foresters and was elected to several chapter and state
offices including chairman at both levels. He was a member of the Minnesota Timber
Producers’ Association where he served on the board of directors and is a
member of the Missouri, Minnesota and National Christmas Tree Growers’
Association.
Born and raised on
the family farm near Hickory in Southwestern Grundy County, Rep. Whorton
attended eight years at Estes—a one-room school—where he was active in 4-H and
a conservation program called Missouri Nature Knights. A graduate of Trenton High School, he served
as student body president and was active in FFA and numerous other activities. Rep. Whorton received his bachelor of
science in agriculture from the University of Missouri specializing in forest
management and ag economics. While at
the university he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho agricultural fraternity. Rep. Whorton did post-graduate work in
agriculture economics, adult education and human relations at the University of
Missouri and University of Minnesota.
Currently Rep.
Whorton resides in Trenton with his wife, Beverly.