Omer H. Avery (1900-1988)
Senator Avery served the people of the 21st District (Callaway, Cole, Lincoln, Miller, Moniteau, Montgomery and Pike counties). Born in Troy, he graduated from the University of Missouri with Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees. He practiced law in Troy and engaged in farming operations. He served in the infantry during World War I in 1918. During World War II, Senator Avery was in the Judge Advocate General’s Department and spent two years in overseas service in England and France. He was discharged with the rank of major. Senator Avery was elected to the House of Representatives in 1950, and re-elected in 1952 and 1954. He served as Majority Floor Leader in the House and was elected to the Senate in 1956. Senator Avery was re-elected to serve in the Senate in 1960, 1964 and 1968. (Democrat)

Served 1957-1972

Frank Bild (1911-1999)
Senator Bild served the people of the 15th District (part of St. Louis County). Born in Rumania, he received his education from St. Louis public schools; Normal College of American Gymnastic Union; Indiana University; and St. Louis University (Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Physical Education, and Bachelor of Science in education). Senator Bild was an attorney and served as captain of the Quartermasters Corps in the U.S. Army in the China-Burma-India Theater. He was elected to the House of Representatives to represent St. Louis County in District 13 in 1962, and again in 1966, 1968 and 1970. Senator Bild was elected to the Senate in 1972. (Republican)

Served 1973-1990

Marvin L. Dinger (1921-1997)
Senator Dinger served the people of the 20th District (Crawford, Dent, Franklin, Iron, St. Francois and Washington counties). He received his education from the University of Missouri-Columbia and Washington University-St. Louis, where he earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree. Senator Dinger served with the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943-1946; and the U.S. Air Force from 1947-1952. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1964, and re-elected in 1966, 1968 and 1970. Senator Dinger was elected to the Senate in 1974 and 1978. (Democrat)

Served 1975-1982

Clarence Heflin (1921-2007)
Senator Heflin served the people of the 16th District (part of Jackson County). Born in Independence, he received his education from William Chrisman High School in Independence, and Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Senator Heflin served in the U.S. Air Force as a bomber pilot in Guam, Siapan and Tinian. He had his real estate license. Senator Heflin was elected to the House of Representatives in 1966, and re-elected in 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974 and 1976. He was elected to the Senate in 1978. (Democrat)

Served 1979-1982

John Hoshor (1909-1989)
Senator Hoshor served the people of the 15th District (Andrew, Atchison, Clay, Clinton, DeKalb, Holt, Nodaway and Platte counties). Born in Rosendale, he attended public schools in Rosendale and Savannah; and the Bowen Institute of Pharmacy in Brunswick, receiving his pharmaceutical certificate. Senator Hoshor was a farmer and pharmacist. He served in the 248th General Hospital, New Guinea, during World War II. He also worked in real estate and the insurance broker business. Senator Hoshor was elected to serve as mayor of Savannah in 1947 and 1948, but resigned to assume his duties as state senator. He was elected to the Senate in 1948. (Democrat)

Served 1949-1952

Norman L. Merrell (1924-1994)
Senator Merrell served the people of the 18th District (Adair, Audrain, Clark, Knox, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Ralls, Schuyler, Scotland and Shelby counties). Born near Williamstown, he graduated from Culver-Stockton College with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and economics and the University of Colorado in Boulder with a master’s degree in business education. Senator Merrell served three years in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. He was a teacher, principal and superintendent of schools for 21 years. Senator Merrell owned and operated several farms in Lewis County. He was elected to the Senate in 1970 and served as President Pro Tem in the 79th, 80th and 81st General Assemblies. (Democrat)

Served 1971-1994

George H. Miller (1907-1987)
Senator Miller served the people of the 15th District (Benton, Hickory, Pettis and Saline counties). Born in Polk County, he received his education from Urbana and Bolivar high schools; Southwest Baptist College; and Southwest Missouri State Teachers College. Senator Miller taught in the public schools of Hickory and Polk counties for six years. He was an attorney and practiced law in Sedalia. Senator Miller served two terms as prosecuting attorney of Hickory County from 1937-1940. He was elected to the Senate in 1940, and served as Republican Floor Leader during the 62nd General Assembly. (Republican)

Served 1941-1944

Walter H. Mueller, Jr. (1925-2011)
Senator Mueller served the people of the 15th District (part of St. Louis County). Born in Springfield, Illinois, he graduated from Wichita High School East; Wichita State University; and the University of Kansas, receiving a Bachelor of Science in marketing and business administration. Senator Mueller served in the U.S. Air Force. He was elected to the House of Representatives and served from 1971-1990. Senator Mueller was elected to the Senate in 1990 in a special election. (Republican)

Served 1990-2000

E. Richard Southern (1936-2000)
Senator Southern served the people of the 18th District (Audrain, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Marion, Monroe, Putnam, Ralls, Schuyler, Scotland and Shelby counties). Born in Madison, he received his education from Madison public schools; Moberly Junior College; and the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1958 and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1960. Senator Southern was employed in the Office of Budget and Comptroller from 1957-1958; Office of State Auditor from 1958-1959; and the Sales Use Tax Division within the Department of Revenue from 1959-1961. He also worked as an attorney and partner at law firms in Palmyra, Hannibal and Monroe City. Senator Southern was elected to the House of Representatives to serve Monroe County in 1960 at the age of 24, and re-elected in 1962 and 1964. He was elected to the Senate in 1966, and at the time, served as the youngest senator since 1908. In the 75th General Assembly, Senator Southern served as Majority Caucus Secretary. (Democrat)

Served 1967-1970

George A. Spencer (1906-1997)
Senator Spencer served the people of the 19th District (Boone, Howard, Monroe, Ralls and Randolph counties). Born near Centralia, he attended a rural elementary school; Centralia High School; Rosenthal School of Commerce; and the University of Missouri School of Law where he earned a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1932. Senator Spencer was a lawyer and operated a farm where he resided. He served as Columbia city attorney for three terms; and prosecuting attorney of Boone County for two terms. Senator Spencer was elected to the House of Representatives in 1946, and re-elected in 1948 and 1950. He served during the 64th, 65th and 66th General Assemblies. In 1952, Senator Spencer was elected to the Senate, and re-elected in 1956. He served as Majority Floor Leader in the 69th and 70th General Assemblies. (Democrat)

Served 1953-1960

Danny Staples (1935-2003)
Senator Staples served the people of the 20th District (Carter, Iron, Oregon, Reynolds, Ripley, Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois, Shannon and part of Jefferson counties). Born in Eminence, he attended Delaware and Eminence schools; Southeast Missouri State University; and Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. Senator Staples operated a canoe business on the Jack’s Fork River. He was elected to the House of Representatives and served from 1977-1982. Senator Staples was elected to the Senate in 1982. (Democrat)

Served 1983-2002

W. W. Sunderwirth (1900-1987)
Senator Sunderwirth served the people of the 16th District (Bates, Cedar, Henry and St. Clair counties). Born in Prairie City, he graduated from Butler High School in 1919; received a Bachelor of Science degree from Tarkio College in 1923; and earned a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Missouri in 1932. In 1926, Senator Sunderwirth received a life certificate to teach in Missouri schools, and taught for three years in Missouri and Iowa high schools. He was admitted to the bar in 1928 and was elected prosecuting attorney of Bates County in 1928, serving from 1929-1930. Senator Sunderwirth began practicing law in El Dorado Springs in 1932, and served as prosecuting attorney of Cedar County from 1939-1940. He was elected to the House of Representatives to serve Cedar County in 1940, during the 61st General Assembly. Senator Sunderwirth was elected to the Senate in 1942. (Republican)

Served 1943-1946

A. Basey Vanlandingham (1920-1990)
Senator Vanlandingham served the people of the 19th District (Adair, Boone, Howard, Macon and Randolph counties). He received his education in rural and public schools in Columbia, and from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Senator Vanlandingham worked as a livestock and grain farmer in Howard and Boone counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1956, and re-elected in 1958. During the 70th General Assembly, Senator Vanlandingham served as Speaker Pro Tem of the House. He was elected to the Senate in 1960, and re-elected in 1964 and 1968. In the 75th General Assembly, Senator Vanlandingham served as Majority Floor Leader. (Democrat)

Served 1961-1972

Warren Welliver (1920-2007)
Senator Welliver served the people of the 19th District (Boone, Callaway, Howard and Randolph counties). Born in Butler, he held a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Bachelor of Laws (Doctor of Jurisprudence) degree from the University of Missouri Law School. Senator Welliver served as lieutenant in the Navy Air Corps during World War II. He was a senior partner at a law firm in Columbia. Senator Welliver was elected to the Senate in 1976. He resigned in 1979 to accept an appointment to the Missouri Supreme Court. (Democrat)

Served 1977-1979