Gordon Allott, 82; Ex-Senator From Colorado

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Former U.S. Sen. Gordon Allott, who during his 18 years in the Senate helped push through water projects instrumental to the economic development of Colorado and Arizona, died of cancer Tuesday at a hospital here. He was 82.

Allott, a Republican, held public office for much of his adult life, culminating in his three terms in the U.S. Senate from 1955 to 1973. He was thwarted in his bid for a fourth Senate term by Democrat Floyd Haskell in the 1972 general election.

Born in Pueblo on Jan. 2, 1907, Allott graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder in 1927 and from its law school in 1929. He became county, city and district attorneys in various areas of the state and was elected lieutenant governor in 1951.

In the Senate, Allott served on the Appropriations and Interior committees. He was the Senate sponsor for the Colorado River Basin Storage Act of 1968, which provided for construction of five Colorado water projects and the Central Arizona Project.