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John William Crutcher

Born: December 19, 1916, Ensign, Kansas. Served as 35th Kansas lieutenant governor 1965-1969. Married: Edith Colvard in 1972. Died March 12, 2017, Jefferson, North Carolina.

He was a graduate of Hutchinson Community College and the University of Kansas. During World War II he served as a navy officer in the Pacific Theater and in Korea. He retired as captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

Crutcher began his career as a teacher in a one-room school house. He transitioned into public service as a Kansas state senator representing the Hutchinson community from 1953 to 1957. He was elected to serve as the 35th Kansas lieutenant governor in 1964; he served two terms from January 11, 1965, to January 13, 1969.

After his terms as lieutenant governor Crutcher was appointed to several federal positions. He served as administrative assistant to Senator Bob Dole, as an appointee to the office of economic opportunity, as director of the bureau of outdoor recreation in the U.S. Department of the Interior, and as commissioner of postal rates.

He married Edith Colvard in 1972. Crutcher traveled widely and was known as a writer and lecturer on politics and cultures of other countries. After his time in Washington he enjoyed many years of retirement in his wife's home state of North Carolina.

Crutcher died in Jefferson, North Carolina, on March 13, 2017.

Entry: John William Crutcher

Author: Kansas Historical Society

Author information: The Kansas Historical Society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the state's history.

Date Created: March 2017

Date Modified: March 2017

The author of this article is solely responsible for its content.