Teller Ammons
{{Short description|American attorney and politician (1895–1972)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Teller Ammons
|order = 28th Governor of Colorado
|image = Teller Ammons (Colorado governor).gif
|term_start1 = January 12, 1937
|term_end1 = January 10, 1939
|lieutenant1 = Frank Hayes
|predecessor1 = Ray Herbert Talbot
|successor1 = Ralph Lawrence Carr
|office2 = Member of the Colorado Senate
|term2 = 1931-1935
|birth_name = Tellor Ammons
|birth_date = {{birth date|1895|12|3}}
|birth_place = Denver, Colorado, US
|death_date = {{death date and age|1972|1|16|1895|12|3}}
|death_place = Denver, Colorado, US
|parents = Elias M. Ammons (father), Elizabeth (nee Fleming) Ammons (mother)
|alma_mater = University of Denver
|party = Democratic
|spouse = Esther Daves Ammons
|children = Davis Ammons (son)
}}
Teller Ammons (December 3, 1895 – January 16, 1972) was an American attorney and politician who served as the 28th Governor of Colorado from 1937 to 1939. He was the first Colorado governor to be born in the state.
Early life
On December 3, 1895, Ammons was born in Colorado. Ammons' father was Elias M. Ammons, a former Governor of Colorado. Ammons' mother was Elizabeth (nee Fleming) Ammons.Marquis Who's Who, Inc. Who Was Who in American History, the Military. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1975. P. 10 {{ISBN|0837932017}} {{OCLC|657162692}} Ammons was named for his father's friend, U.S. Senator Henry Moore Teller.
Career
He served with the 154th Infantry Regiment in the United States Army in France during World War I.
After the war, he returned to Colorado to work on a ranch and in a newspaper office.{{cite web|url=http://coloradorestlessnative.blogspot.com/2008/08/teller-ammons-microphone-scandal.html|title=Restless native: Teller Ammons' microphone scandal|first=___ Restless|last=Native|date=August 16, 2008|publisher=}} He earned a law degree from the University of Denver's Westminster Law School in 1929.
Ammons was elected to the Colorado Senate in 1930 and served until 1935 when Denver Mayor Benjamin F. Stapleton appointed him as Denver city attorney.
In 1936, Ammons was elected Governor of Colorado. On January 12, 1937, Ammons began his term as the Governor of Colorado, until January 10, 1939.{{cite web |url=https://www.nga.org/governor/teller-ammons/ |title=Colorado Gov. Teller Ammons |website=nga.org |accessdate=November 3, 2021}}([https://web.archive.org/web/20201129071904/https://www.nga.org/governor/teller-ammons/ archived]) As Governor, he was responsible for the execution of Joe Arridy, who was innocent of the crime he was accused of; he had refused to pardon Arridy or commute his sentence. After one two-year term, he was defeated for reelection in 1938 by Ralph L. Carr.
During World War II, he served as a lieutenant colonel on the selection and assignment board for military officers until 1944. In 1944, he was part of the military government of Guam. He separated from the service in 1945.{{cite web|url=http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_colorado/col2-content/main-content-list/title_ammons_teller.default.html|title=Teller Ammons|last=root|publisher=}}
Afterwards, he practiced law in Denver until his retirement.
Personal life
Ammons' wife was Esther Daves Ammons. They had one child, whose name is Davis Ammons.
Ammons died on January 16, 1972, and was buried in Fairmount Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/govs/tammons.html State of Colorado biography]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100104104303/http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=2c3a224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD National Governors Association biography]
- {{Find a Grave|7738167}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=Edwin C. Johnson}}
{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Governor of Colorado|years=1936, 1938}}
{{s-aft|after=George E. Saunders}}
{{s-off}}
{{succession box| before=Ray Herbert Talbot| years=1937–1939|title=Governor of Colorado| after=Ralph Lawrence Carr}}
{{s-end}}
{{Governors of Colorado}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ammons, Teller}}
Category:Democratic Party Colorado state senators
Category:Democratic Party governors of Colorado
Category:United States Army personnel of World War I
Category:United States Army personnel of World War II
Category:Politicians from Denver
Category:United States Army officers
Category:Military personnel from Colorado
Category:Burials at Fairmount Cemetery (Denver, Colorado)
Category:20th-century members of the Colorado General Assembly