Representative Ralph Fulton Lozier

Ralph Fulton Lozier (January 28, 1866 – May 28, 1945) was an American lawyer, agricultural leader, and Democratic politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Missouri from 1923 to 1935. He was born near Hardin, in Ray County, Missouri, where he spent his early years in a rural setting that would later inform his professional and political focus on agriculture and local economic development.

Lozier attended the public schools of Ray County and pursued higher education at Avalon College in Avalon, Missouri. After completing his studies, he read law and was admitted to the bar in 1889. He began the practice of law in Carrollton, Carroll County, Missouri, where he established himself as a prominent attorney. In addition to his legal work, he engaged in agricultural pursuits, reflecting his continued connection to the farming communities of his region.

Before entering Congress, Lozier built a substantial career in local public service and civic affairs. He served as city attorney of Carrollton from 1890 to 1892 and again from 1896 to 1900, advising the municipality on legal matters and helping shape local governance. He also became active in Democratic Party politics at the county and state levels, gaining recognition as a spokesman for rural interests and as a supporter of policies favorable to farmers and small-town businesses. His dual experience in law and agriculture positioned him as a natural representative for his largely rural district.

Lozier was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives and served six consecutive terms from March 4, 1923, to January 3, 1935. His tenure in Congress spanned a significant period in American history, encompassing the prosperity of the 1920s, the onset of the Great Depression, and the early years of the New Deal. As a member of the House of Representatives, Ralph Fulton Lozier participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of his Missouri constituents, contributing to the legislative process during his twelve years in office. During this time, he served on committees that reflected his legal background and agricultural expertise, and he supported measures aimed at economic relief and recovery for farmers and rural communities.

In addition to his legislative work, Lozier was involved in broader party affairs during his congressional service. He took part in Democratic Party activities at the national level and was identified with the wing of the party that favored active federal engagement in addressing economic dislocation, particularly in the agricultural sector. His record in Congress aligned with efforts to stabilize farm prices, improve rural credit, and support infrastructure development in less urbanized areas of Missouri and the Midwest.

After leaving Congress in 1935, Lozier returned to the practice of law in Carrollton and continued his involvement in agricultural and civic matters. He remained a respected figure in Missouri public life, drawing on his long experience as an attorney, farmer, and legislator. Ralph Fulton Lozier died on May 28, 1945, in Kansas City, Missouri. He was interred in Oak Hill Cemetery in Carrollton, Missouri, leaving a legacy as a six-term Democratic Representative who served his state during a transformative era in the nation’s political and economic history.