Joseph W. Alton

Joseph W. Alton Jr.
Member of the Maryland Senate
from the Anne Arundel County district
In office
1963 – February 1, 1965
Preceded byJohn F. McNulty
Succeeded byJohn W. Steffey
Personal details
Born
Joseph Walter Alton Jr.

(1919-01-18)January 18, 1919
Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.
DiedMarch 29, 2013(2013-03-29) (aged 94)
Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Children2
Occupation
  • sheriff
  • politician

Joseph W. Alton Jr. (January 18, 1919 – March 29, 2013) was an American politician and a Republican. He represented Anne Arundel County in the Maryland Senate from 1963 to February 1, 1965.

Early life

Joseph Walter Alton Jr.[1] was born in Annapolis, Maryland on January 18, 1919, to Joseph W. Alton, the county sheriff. He graduated from Annapolis High School.[1][2]

Career

Alton served as Deputy Sheriff of Anne Arundel County from 1947 to 1951. After his father's death in 1950, Alton became the next Sheriff of Anne Arundel County. He served as sheriff from 1950 to 1962.[1][2] He represented Anne Arundel County as a State Senator from 1963 to February 1, 1965.[2][3]

Alton then served as the first County Executive of Anne Arundel County, Maryland from February 1, 1965, to 1974.[1][2]

In December 1974, Alton pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to charges of conspiracy to commit extortion for attempting to get $36,000 in kickbacks from consultants.[1][2] He was sentenced to eighteen months in federal prison, of which he served seven months at Allenwood Federal Prison Camp, in Allenwood, Pennsylvania.[2] He was paroled in September 1975.[1]

Personal life

Alton married and divorced three times.[1] He had two children: Joseph W. Alton III and Marsha J. Alton.[1][2]

Death

Alton died on March 29, 2013, at Genesis Eldercare Spa Creek Center in Annapolis, two days after his son, Joseph W. Alton III.[1][2][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rasmussen, Frederick N. (April 3, 2013). "Joseph W. Alton Jr". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Joseph W. Alton, Jr., County Executive, Anne Arundel County, Maryland". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. October 18, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  3. ^ "Historical List, House of Delegates, Anne Arundel County (1838-1966)". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. September 30, 1999. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  4. ^ Bourg, Allison (March 28, 2013). "Joseph Alton, first Anne Arundel executive, dies". The Capital. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
Preceded by
No one
 Anne Arundel County Executive
1965—1974 		Succeeded by


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