J. Edgar Chenoweth papers

J. Edgar Chenoweth (1897-1986) was born in Trinidad, Colorado and resided there. His parents were pioneer settlers in Las Animas County. Chenoweth attended the University of Colorado and, by studying law in his spare time, was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 1926. Beginning in 1926 he practiced law in Trinidad. In 1929 he became Assistant District Attorney for the Third Judicial District. He continued in this position until 1933, when, in order to fill a vacancy, he was appointed County Judge of Las Animas County. Chenoweth was elected County Judge in 1934 and was re-elected in 1936. In 1937 Chenoweth became the Chairman of the Colorado Republican State Central Committee and served in this capacity until his nomination for Congress in 1940. Following his successful election campaign in 1940, he served as Colorado’s Third Congressional District Representative with re-election victories in 1942, 1944 and 1946. In the election of 1948, however, Representative Chenoweth lost to Democrat John H. Marsalis. In 1950 the Third District Republican Party again nominated Chenoweth to run for Congress. In this, the second election campaign against Marsalis, Chenoweth emerged victorious regaining his seat in Congress. He continued to represent Colorado’s Third District until the election of 1964, when, opposed by Democrat Frank Evans, he suffered defeat. Judge Chenoweth made one final attempt to regain his Congressional seat in the 1966 election, but lost in the Third District Republican primary to Dave Enoch. During his twenty-two years in Congress, Representative Chenoweth served on the House Committee on Claims, the Committee on Science and Astronautics, the Committee on Public Lands, the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, the Education Committee and the Rules Committee. He also served on the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee; the Subcommittees on Irrigation and Reclamation, Mines and Mining and Natural Parks. In 1947-48 Judge Chenoweth carried the House Subcommittee to Investigate Expenditures of the State Department. As a congressman, J. Edgar Chenoweth strongly supported all reclamation and flood control projects in the West. He introduced the initial Fryingpan-Arkansas Project legislation in 1952 to divert water from the Colorado River Basin into the Arkansas River Basin. For a number of years Chenoweth was the only Colorado Congressman supporting the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project and his diligence in connection with this water project earned him the appellation “Mr. Fryingpan.” Ten years after his introduction of this legislation and with support of Colorado’s other Congressional representatives, the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project became law in 1962. Chenoweth’s interest in reclamation and flood control found him supporting many projects in Colorado and the West. In the Third District his legislation brought flood control to the troublesome Purgatoire River, which had flooded Trinidad four times in this century, with the Trinidad Dam and Reservoir. He was also involved with flood control on the Arkansas River at Pueblo. Chenoweth also supported legislation for the benefit of the farmer and stockman. Legislation he introduced intended to raise tariffs on imported beef and aid the American livestock industry. As a member of the subcommittee on Mines and Mining he supported all legislation intended to strengthen the mining industry. He introduced legislation to revitalize gold mining by raising the price paid for domestic gold. He also introduced legislation to stabilize prices in the lead and zinc industry. Judge Chenoweth supported a strong national defense and was active in bringing military installations to the Third District. In 1955 the Air Force Academy opened at Colorado Springs and Chenoweth had been very active in bringing that facility to Colorado. For a number of years he served on the appointed Air Force Academy Board of Visitors. Chenoweth gave many Lincoln Day speeches and after leaving political office in 1965, he remained active in the National and State Republican Party as well as appearing on the speaking circuit giving a speech entitled “Washington’s Image in America.” He continued his law practice in Trinidad. Mr. Chenoweth was a 33rd Mason. In 1968-69 he was the District Governor for Rotary International District #547. In 1970 the Agriculture Department appointed him to the Board of Forest Appeals. Always active in local affairs, Chenoweth served on the boards of several organizations, including the Colorado Boys Ranch in La Junta, the Trinidad-Las Animas County Chamber of Commerce, the First Baptist Church in Trinidad, the Colorado and Wyoming Railway Company and the Selective Service System. J. Edgar Chenoweth and his Ruth had five children.