Dayton Countryman
Office25th Attorney General of Iowa
GovernorLeo Hoegh
SuccessorNorman A. Erbe
PredecessorLeo Hoegh
Term end1957
Term start1955
Office 2Story County Attorney
Term end 21950
Term start 21954
PartyRepublican
BattlesWorld War II
Birth nameDayton Wendell Countryman
Death placeAmes, Iowa, U.S.
Birth placeSioux City, Iowa, U.S.
BranchUnited States Army
Death dateSeptember 13, 2011 (aged 93)
Birth dateMarch 31, 1918
EducationIowa State University (BS)
University of Iowa (LLB)

Dayton Wendell Countryman (March 31, 1918 – September 13, 2011) was an American attorney, farmer, and politician who served as the 26th Attorney General of Iowa from 1955 to 1957.

Early life and education

Born in Sioux City, Iowa, Countryman attended Pierson High School. He then received his bachelor's degree in forestry from Iowa State University in 1940. During World War II, Countryman served in the United States Army Air Forces as a pilot and was commissioned lieutenant colonel. He then graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1948 and was admitted to the Iowa bar.

Career

Countryman practiced law in Nevada, Iowa. From 1950 to 1954, Countryman served as attorney for Story County, Iowa as a member of the Republican party. From 1955 to 1957, Countryman served as Attorney General of Iowa. In 1956, 1960, and 1968, Countryman unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for United States Senate. He continued to practice law in Nevada, Iowa and also managed his farms.

Death

Countryman died in Ames, Iowa, from complications of Alzheimer's disease.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ Dayton Countryman-obituary
  2. ^ 'Dayton Countryman-obituary,' Sioux City Journal, September 16, 2011