COUNTY FEUD HELPED LAUNCH DENNIS ON POLITICAL CAREER

BENTON - Sometime around 1949, Scott County Sheriff Early Malcom touched off a political feud with the Dennis family.

John Dennis made a promise to Sheriff Malcom to remove him from office. "I told him I'd get him an opponent or run myself," recalled Dennis.

Three years later, at the age of 34, Dennis filed for sheriff. Even though all Democratic committee members were with the incumbent, and only one county officeholder was on his side, Dennis battled the odds.

He got out and met the people, hammering home a campaign theme that "two terms is enough for anyone."

When the votes were counted in August 1952, Dennis had defeated Sheriff Malcom by 347 votes, angering establishment Democrats in the process. Although he did not know it at the time, Dennis had launched a career in public service that was to become his life's work.

Dennis went on to serve six terms as sheriff and in seeking his third term quickly adopted a new slogan of "experience is the best teacher" and at the end of next year will wrap up four terms in the Missouri Senate.

At the time Dennis entered the race for sheriff, he had been working for about a year at Marquette Cement in Cape Girardeau and was running a tavern and restaurant in New Hamburg.

Had it not been for the prodding of a priest in New Hamburg, Dennis might have been retired from the cement plant, instead of a longtime public servant.

Dennis, who claims he may have been the only Protestant in New Hamburg, said the priest would "come down every afternoon and talk. He kept need~ling me about running, but I had not really given much thought to it."

Other priests joined in urging Dennis to run, pointing out that he had done much for youth in the area promoting sports, coaching softball, helping light fields, and other things to help young people.

Once Dennis was elected sheriff, he maintained his interest in young people, and admits he was often accused of being too lenient on kids. As sheriff, Dennis conducted a lot of programs in schools on safety and, like a good politician, "made sure they all knew who I was."

That concern for young people that led the priest in New Hamburg to urge Dennis to run for office, stayed with him throughout his two dozen years as sheriff. A plaque, hanging on the wall of his Capitol office, recognizes that concern.

The plaque proclaims: "From the citizens of Scott County to John C. Dennis for 24 years of faithful service, equal treatment under the law for everyone and a sincere, consistent interest in the well being of our youth."

Dennis became sheriff with a $2,800 annual salary, and had one deputy that made $3,000 a year. A trustee ran the jail at night. Dennis recalls he didn't know much about being sheriff, but "did a hell of a lot of studying" to prepare for the job.

Education is important to Dennis because he regretted not being able to attend college. As sheriff, he said, he learned what happened to uneducated people.

"I have never been turned down for something because of no college education, but I would encourage young people to get all the education they can get," remarked Dennis. As sheriff, Dennis said he attended all the seminars he could to get more training.

"When you deal in law enforcement, you see that the less educated people are the ones in trouble more," remarked Dennis. He notes that organizations like Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, sports programs, and school related activities are good because they keep kids busy with productive things to do and out of trouble.

Not only are good colleges important, but Dennis also believes the state needs to do more to improve vocational training opportunities for young people or older people seeking new jobs.

Born in Patton on July 31, 1917, Dennis attended the old Toga School near Advance, then went to Blodgett, and then to the Sand Prairie School, south of Morley. As one of the older students at Sand Prairie, Dennis was able to get a job paying $5 a month "to keep the fire going and the floor swept" at school.

He moved back to Blodgett, but with the depression taking its toll on opportunity, quit school to enter service before graduating. He later earned a G.E.D.

Dennis was unsuccessful getting into a Civilian Conservation Corps camp and tried to get into the Army to earn the then attractive wage of $21 a month. But, as Dennis points out, "it was about as hard to get into the military then than it was to stay out in World War II."

But Dennis' cousin, Orville Zimmerman, was serving in Congress from Southeast Missouri and Dennis called him collect in Washington to seek help. About a week later, Zimmerman called and told him when to report for service.

After three years in the Army, Dennis later served almost three years in the Marine Corps, before moving back and opening his business in New Hamburg.

Dennis believes his ability to get along with young people has contributed to his longtime success at the ballot box. "There are a lot of generations of kids over the years and they grow up to vote. Part of my success is being good to them."

Dennis says he never dreamed when he won his first race for sheriff in 1952, that he was on his way to four decades in public office as sheriff and senator.

"I am really proud of the fact that I got elected that many times," declared Dennis. "I've enjoyed both jobs; I've really enjoyed them."