Friends mourn former lawmaker
Former Oklahoma Sen. John D. Luton called humble, wise

Tulsa World, Tulsa, OK, By D.E. Smoot Phoenix Staff Writer, January 30, 2014

Former Sen. John D. Luton, a longtime Muskogee lawyer remembered by friends and colleagues as "humble," "compassionate," "brilliant and wise," died Thursday at age 91.

Luton, born Oct. 11, 1922, in Miami, Okla., was the son of a Methodist minister. He completed high school at Bixby and went on to earn a law degree at the University of Oklahoma before starting his private law practice in 1950 at Haskell.

Luton later worked as an assistant prosecutor for the late Ed Edmondson before serving four years as Muskogee County district attorney in the early 1960s. Luton was elected as state senator during a special election in 1964 and served in that capacity until 1988, when he was succeeded by former Sen. Ben Robinson.

"I knew him very well, and I knew his reputation even better," Robinson said after learning about Luton's death. "He was certainly all of that (humble and compassionate), but he was also brilliant and wise — he was just a dynamic legislator."

Robinson said Luton was "extremely well thought of at that state Capitol." Robinson said there wasn't one session during his 16-year tenure when he wasn't asked multiple times about Luton.

"He attended several of the old-timers meetings, and was always one of the stars of the show," Robinson said about Luton. "Everybody loved John Luton — this is certainly a loss."

Luton suffered a stroke in June but "hung in there" during the past few months while living at a Muskogee nursing home. His younger son, John David Luton, said before a stroke his father was "living at home, doing just fine and working out every day."

"He certainly had an active life and stayed mentally and physically active his whole life," Luton said. "He served the public for many years, starting out working as an assistant prosecutor for the late, great Ed Edmondson."

Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Jim Edmondson recalled the senior Luton as "a great family man" and "good Democrat" whose support was instrumental to his appointment in 1983 as a district court judge.

"He was one of a group of honest men brought into the county attorney's office — the integrity and honesty that he brought to Muskogee politics is there for all to see," Edmondson said. "He was a distinguished public servant who always put the public before himself. I mourn his passing and extend my heartfelt best wishes to his family who has followed in his course."

Muskogee County Commissioner Gene Wallace recalled Luton as "the gentleman senator from Muskogee." He described the late senator as "the epitome of grace and a role model for other elected officials."

"He came up in the rough-and-tumble days of politics in the 1950s and ‘60s in Muskogee County, but he always maintained the grace and dignity of an elected official," Wallace said. "He was a tremendous role model (who) ... left a great legacy for his family and friends."

Luton's funeral is scheduled at 11 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church under the direction of Foster-Petering Funeral Home.
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John D. Luton, 91, long time Muskogee resident died Thursday, January 30, 2014 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He was the son of the late Reverend and Mrs. A. R. Luton, born October 11, 1922 in Miami, Oklahoma. He graduated from Bixby High School in 1940, continued his education attending Oklahoma A&M. He served in the Army Air Corps from 1942 - 1945 during World War II. He was an aerial gunner on a B-17, and served a full combat tour of duty in the European Theatre of Action. He was awarded the Air Medal with Six Oak Leaf Clusters and other combat duty awards. Upon his discharge he attended the University of Oklahoma School of Law. He received his Juris Doctorate in 1950 entering the Practice of Law in Muskogee in November 1950. He was elected and served as Muskogee County Attorney from January 1959 to January 1963. In 1964 he was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate representing Senate District #9. During his 24-year tenure in the Senate he served six years as Assistant Majority Floor Leader and retired in 1988 after four years as the Majority Floor Leader. He was a long time member of First United Methodist Church. He served as president of the Noon Lions Club and State President of the Oklahoma Jaycees. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, York Rite Lodge, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Affairs, Disabled American Veterans, The Shrine, Jesters and the Odd Fellows Lodge. Services will be held on Monday February 3, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in the First United Methodist Church. Funeral service arrangements are under the direction of Foster-Petering Funeral Home.