Don B. Colton

Don Byron Colton (September 15, 1876 – August 1, 1952) was an American lawyer and politician who served six consecutive terms as a U.S. representative from Utah from 1921 to 1933.

Early life Born near Mona, Juab County, Utah Territory, Colton moved with his parents to Uintah County, Utah Territory in 1879. He attended the public schools and the Uintah Academy, Vernal, Utah. He was graduated from the commercial department of Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, in 1896. He graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1905. He was admitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice in Vernal, Utah.

Political career Colton was receiver of the United States land office at Vernal from 1905 to 1914. He served as delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1904, 1924, and 1928 as well as a delegate to the Republican State conventions from in 1914 and 1924. He was an unsuccessful candidate for United States Senator in 1934.

Utah House of Representatives Colton served as member of the Utah House of Representatives in 1903. He also served as member of the State senate from 1915 to 1917.

Congress Colton was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-seventh and to the five succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1933). He served as chairman of the Committee on Elections No. 1 (Sixty-ninth and Seventieth Congresses), Committee on Public Lands (Seventieth and Seventy-first Congresses). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1932 to the Seventy-third Congress. While in Congress Colton served as the Sunday School teacher for the LDS Church Sunday School in Washington, D.C.

Campaign for governor He was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Utah in 1940, losing the race to Herbert Maw 52% to 48%.

Professional career He engaged in teaching in 1898, 1901, and 1902. Colton resumed the practice of law in Vernal, Utah.

From 1910 to 1921 Colton served as the president of the Uintah Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). From 1933 to 1937, Colton served as president of the Eastern States Mission of the LDS Church.

He moved to Salt Lake City in 1937 and continued the practice of law.

He also engaged in farming, ranching, sheep and stock raising, and other business enterprises.

Death Colton died in Salt Lake City, Utah, August 1, 1952. Immediately prior to this he was serving as the head of the LDS Church mission home in Salt Lake City. Colton had been serving in this position since he had taken over from J. Wyley Sessions in 1938.

Colton was interred in Wasatch Lawn Cemetery.

Electoral history