Politician, US Senator. Born Thomas Slade Gorton III, he was a graduate of the New York's Columbia Law School. A heir of the Gorton Seafood Company of Massachusetts, he served in the US Army from 1945 to 1946, and in the US Air Force from 1953 to 1956. He continued to serve as an Air Force reservist until 1980, retiring with the rank of Colonel. He was elected to the United States Senate from Washington state from 1981 to 1987 and 1989 to 2001. He served in the Washington state legislature from 1959 to 1969 representing Seattle's 46th district, and as Washington state attorney general from 1969 to 1981. In 2004 he was appointed as a member of the 911 Commission that investigated the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington D.C. While serving as state attorney general he was a key political figure in local environmental issues and tribal fishing rights disputes. An avid baseball fan, he filed legal action against Major League Baseball following the relocation of the Seattle Pilots to Milwaukee in 1970. His actions culminated in the eventual return of Major League Baseball to the City of Seattle in the mid 1970s, with the creation of the Seattle Mariners baseball team. In 1974 he called for the resignation of President Richard Nixon following the Watergate political scandal, and was only one of a handful of Republicans either inside or outside of government, that openly supported investigations into the potential impeachment of Donald J. Trump in the Democratic led House of Representatives. He died from natural causes at his daughter's home while under hospice care.
Politician, US Senator. Born Thomas Slade Gorton III, he was a graduate of the New York's Columbia Law School. A heir of the Gorton Seafood Company of Massachusetts, he served in the US Army from 1945 to 1946, and in the US Air Force from 1953 to 1956. He continued to serve as an Air Force reservist until 1980, retiring with the rank of Colonel. He was elected to the United States Senate from Washington state from 1981 to 1987 and 1989 to 2001. He served in the Washington state legislature from 1959 to 1969 representing Seattle's 46th district, and as Washington state attorney general from 1969 to 1981. In 2004 he was appointed as a member of the 911 Commission that investigated the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington D.C. While serving as state attorney general he was a key political figure in local environmental issues and tribal fishing rights disputes. An avid baseball fan, he filed legal action against Major League Baseball following the relocation of the Seattle Pilots to Milwaukee in 1970. His actions culminated in the eventual return of Major League Baseball to the City of Seattle in the mid 1970s, with the creation of the Seattle Mariners baseball team. In 1974 he called for the resignation of President Richard Nixon following the Watergate political scandal, and was only one of a handful of Republicans either inside or outside of government, that openly supported investigations into the potential impeachment of Donald J. Trump in the Democratic led House of Representatives. He died from natural causes at his daughter's home while under hospice care.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
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