Ray Thornton

Raymond Hoyt Thornton Jr. (July 16, 1928 – April 13, 2016) was an American attorney and politician. He was a Democratic U.S. Representative for Arkansas's 4th congressional district from 1973 to 1979 and the 2nd district from 1991 to 1997.

Life and career Thornton was born in Conway, Arkansas, on July 16, 1928, to Wilma Stephens and Raymond Thornton. A graduate of Sheridan High School, Thornton earned a degree in political science from Yale University and, later, a Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas School of Law at Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Thornton died in Little Rock on April 13, 2016, at the age of 87.