Firm History
Firm History
Established in 1937.
Governor JOHN M. DALTON established the firm in 1937 as a sole practitioner.
Dalton served as the Kennett city attorney, a position he held from 1944 to 1953. He was the attorney to the Missouri Rural Electrification Cooperative Act. Dalton entered politics in 1952, becoming the 34th Attorney General of Missouri, an office he held eight years. He next secured the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, and was elected the 45th Governor of Missouri on November 8, 1960. During his tenure, the Ozark National River-way was created; seat belt legislation was enacted; a four-campus system for the University of Missouri was founded; funding was secured for a new state highway patrol headquarters; stricter driving laws were enforced; and school desegregation issues were dealt with. After completing his term, Dalton left office on January 11, 1965 and retired from political life. He died July 7, 1972.
John Hall Dalton, John Montgomery's son, joined the firm in 1952. J. Michael Mowrer was added to the roster in 1977, and John Hall Dalton Jr. in 1987. In 2016, the firm added Jonce B. Chidister to the legal team.
Dalton served as the Kennett city attorney, a position he held from 1944 to 1953. He was the attorney to the Missouri Rural Electrification Cooperative Act. Dalton entered politics in 1952, becoming the 34th Attorney General of Missouri, an office he held eight years. He next secured the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, and was elected the 45th Governor of Missouri on November 8, 1960. During his tenure, the Ozark National River-way was created; seat belt legislation was enacted; a four-campus system for the University of Missouri was founded; funding was secured for a new state highway patrol headquarters; stricter driving laws were enforced; and school desegregation issues were dealt with. After completing his term, Dalton left office on January 11, 1965 and retired from political life. He died July 7, 1972.
John Hall Dalton, John Montgomery's son, joined the firm in 1952. J. Michael Mowrer was added to the roster in 1977, and John Hall Dalton Jr. in 1987. In 2016, the firm added Jonce B. Chidister to the legal team.