# Hiram A. McNeil

Hiram A. McNeil was a state representative from Olathe, Colorado in Montrose County, Colorado. A Democrat, McNeil served 20 years in the Colorado General Assembly from 1955 thru 1974. Hiram McNeil's districts included all or part of the Colorado Western Slope counties of Montrose County, Colorado, Ouray County, Colorado, Dolores County, Colorado, San Juan County, Colorado, Hinsdale County, Colorado, Montezuma County, Colorado, San Miguel County, Colorado, Saguache County, Colorado, Gunnison County, Colorado, and Delta County, Colorado.

## Background

Hiram A. McNeil was born in Olathe, Colorado in 1903. Prior to his birth, Hiram McNeil's family moved to western Colorado in 1876 and homesteaded near Ridgway, in 1881. Hiram and his wife bought a farm from her father in Bostwick Park, in 1935. The McNeil family grew potatoes & Moravian malting barley for Adolph Coors Co. He also served on the board of directors for Cimarron Ditch & Reservoir Co. McNeil's political role and director role with Cimarron Ditch & Reservoir Co. would serve critical for the passing of Congress's 1963 H.R. 3672, An Act to provide for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Savery-Pot Hook, Bostwick Park, and Fruitland Mesa participating reclamation projects under the Colorado River Storage Project Act. The Bostwick Park Project is the funding component for Silver Jack Dam.

## Elections

Prior to the election cycle of 1964, Colorado did not number their legislative districts.

### General Election - 1954

1954 General Election for State Representative Montrose & Ouray Counties :
| County | Hiram A. McNeil | P.J. Campbell |
| Montrose | 2,415 | 2,387 |
| Ouray | 498 | 449 |
| Total | 2,913 | 2,836 |

### General Election - 1956

1956 General Election for State Representative Montrose & Ouray Counties :
| County | Hiram A. McNeil | Herbert W. Ross | Total |
| Montrose | 3,742 | 2,707 | 6,449 |
| Ouray | 511 | 451 | 962 |
| Total | 4,253 | 3,158 | 7,411 |

### General Election - 1958

1959 General Election for State Representative Montrose & Ouray Counties :
| County | Hiram A. McNeil | George R. Lindfelt | Total |
| Montrose | 3,243 | 2,292 | 5,535 |
| Ouray | 597 | 364 | 961 |
| Total | 3,840 | 2,656 | 6,496 |

### General Election - 1960

1960 General Election for State Representative Montrose & Ouray Counties :
| County | Hiram A. McNeil | Pete J. Campbell | Total |
| Montrose | 4,179 | 2,679 | 6,858 |
| Ouray | 515 | 425 | 940 |
| Total | 4,694 | 3,104 | 7,798 |

### General Election - 1962

1962 General Election for State Representative Montrose & Ouray Counties :
| County | Hiram A. McNeil | Robert M. Tinus |
| Montrose | 3,019 | 2,440 |
| Ouray | 493 | 323 |
| Total | 3,512 | 2,763 |

### General Election - 1964

1964 General Election for State Representative District 64 :
| County | Hiram A. McNeil | Joe E. Hardy | Total |
| Dolores | 435 | 331 | 766 |
| Montrose | 3,835 | 2,621 | 6,456 |
| Ouray | 533 | 313 | 846 |
| San Juan | 230 | 156 | 386 |
| San Miguel | 434 | 573 | 1,007 |
| Total | 5,467 | 3,994 | 9,461 |

### General Election - 1966

1966 General Election for State Representative District 25 :
| Counties | Hiram A. McNeil | B.C. (Burt) Collins | Total |
| Dolores | 398 | 222 | 620 |
| Montrose | 3,116 | 2,918 | 6,034 |
| Ouray | 432 | 351 | 783 |
| San Juan | 196 | 132 | 328 |
| San Miguel | 480 | 286 | 766 |
| Total | 4,622 | 3,909 | 8,531 |

### General Election - 1968

1968 General Election for State Representative District 65 :
| Counties | Hiram A. McNeil | B.C. Collins | Total |
| Dolores | 418 | 274 | 692 |
| Montezuma | 321 | 272 | 593 |
| Montrose | 3,113 | 3,203 | 6,316 |
| San Miguel | 463 | 312 | 775 |
| Total | 4,315 | 4,061 | 8,376 |

### General Election - 1970

1970 General Election for State Representative District 65 :
| Counties | Hiram A. McNeil | Richard A. Whitney | Total |
| Dolores | 373 | 234 | 607 |
| Montezuma | 319 | 238 | 557 |
| Montrose | 2,656 | 2,547 | 5,203 |
| San Miguel | 419 | 365 | 784 |
| Total | 3,767 | 3,384 | 7,151 |

### General Election - 1972

1972 General Election for State Representative District 58 :
| Counties | Hiram A. McNeil | Ralph E. Porter | Total |
| Delta | 215 | 388 | 603 |
| Dolores | 386 | 272 | 658 |
| Gunnison | 1,293 | 1,981 | 3,274 |
| Hinsdale | 53 | 154 | 207 |
| Montezuma | 184 | 137 | 321 |
| Montrose | 3,655 | 3,102 | 6,757 |
| Ouray | 430 | 444 | 874 |
| Saguache | 20 | 30 | 50 |
| San Juan | 248 | 157 | 405 |
| San Miguel | 636 | 357 | 993 |
| Total | 7,120 | 7,022 | 14,142 |

## Committees

House Standing Committee Assignments :
| Year | Committee 1 | Committee 2 | Committee 3 | Committee 4 |
| 1955 | Agriculture & Livestock | Education | | |
| 1956 | Agriculture & Livestock | Education | | |
| 1957 | Water (Chair) | Agriculture & Livestock (Vice-Chair) | Local Government | State Affairs |
| 1958 | Water (Chair) | Agriculture & Livestock (Vice-Chair) | Local Government | State Affairs |
| 1959 | Water (Chair) | Agriculture & Livestock | Appropriations | State Affairs |
| 1960 | Water (Chair) | Agriculture & Livestock | Appropriations | State Affairs |
| 1961 | Agriculture & Livestock (Chair) | Appropriations | Natural Resources | State Affairs |
| 1962 | Agriculture & Livestock (Chair) | Appropriations | Natural Resources | State Affairs |
| 1963 | Agriculture & Livestock | Appropriations | Natural Resources | State Affairs |
| 1964 | Agriculture & Livestock | Appropriations | Natural Resources | State Affairs |
| 1965 | Agriculture & Livestock (Chair) | Local Government | State Affairs | |
| 1966 | Agriculture & Livestock (Chair) | Local Government | State Affairs | |
| 1967 | Agriculture & Livestock | Game, Fish & Parks | Natural Resources | |
| 1968 | Agriculture & Livestock | Game, Fish & Parks | Natural Resources | |
| 1970 | Agriculture & Livestock | Game, Fish & Parks | Natural Resources | |
| 1971 | Game, Fish & Parks | Natural Resources | State Affairs | |
| 1972 | Game, Fish & Parks | Natural Resources | State Affairs | |
| 1973 | Game, Fish & Parks | Natural Resources | State Affairs | |
| 1974 | Game, Fish & Parks | Natural Resources | State Affairs | |
Joint Statutory Committees :
| Year | Committee |
| 1971 | Legislative Council |
| 1972 | Legislative Council |
| 1973 | Legislative Council |
| 1974 | Legislative Council |
Interim Committee Assignments :
| Year | Committee 1 | Committee 2 | Committee 3 |
| 1959 | Agricultural Industry Laws (HJR12) | | |
| 1960 | Agricultural Industry Laws (HJR 6) | | |
| 1961 | Reapportionment (HJR 24) | | |
| 1963 | Freeport Provisions (HJR 25) | Water Problems | |
| 1964 | Property Tax (HJR25) | Water (HJR 1030) | |
| 1965 | Financing State & Local Government (HJR 1024) | Property Exempt from Taxation (HJR 1024) | State & Local Taxes - Subcommittee on Property Taxation |
| 1966 | Tax Exempt Property (HJR 1024) | | |
| 1967 | Game Fish & Parks Commission (SJR 42) | State & Local Taxes | |
| 1970 | District Attorneys | | |
| 1971 | Legislative Reapportionment & Congressional Redistricting (HJR 1033) | Weather Modification (HJR 1033) | |
| 1972 | Highway | Financing (SJR 7) | |
| 1973 | Federal & State Lands | Water | |
| 1974 | Federal & State Lands | Water | |