The early 1960s boasted handsome young men in national politics. Milford had its own rival to the Kennedy brothers and New York Mayor John V. Lindsay in Alan H Jepson, who would outlast them all.
Although Alan Jepson was born in Hartford, he came to be known as “Mr. Milford” both for as long tenure in politics but also for the respect he received from those on both sides of the political aisle.
Born to father Chauncey and mother Alice Piercy in 1926, Jepson grew up in Stratford. He was a member of the “Greatest Generation,” leaving high school at age 17 and joining the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served aboard the destroyer, USS Collette, in the Iwo Jima and Okinawa Pacific theatres.
After his Navy discharge in 1946, Alan returned to finish Stratford High School, then earned a degree in communications from Boston University on the G.I. Bill. In Boston he met and married a Tufts college graduate, the formidable Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Pettingell, in 1948.
Jepson worked first in broadcasting, then with Junior Achievement in Massachusetts, eventually becoming J.A.’s Executive Director in greater New Haven, and settling in Milford in 1956. He brought JA to Milford in 1957.
As executive Director of the Citizens Action Committee, Jepson worked with Mayor Dick Lee in New Haven, while locally he kept active in the PTA, Pond Point Association, and Milford Democratic Party.
Alan was appointed chairman of the Charter Revision Commission in the late 1950s. Upon its recommendation, Milford changed from a “Town,” with a town manager form of government, to a “City,” with mandatory minority representation on all boards and commissions, an elected “strong” mayor, and an elected Board of Alderman.
Having led the design of the new civic entity, Alan sought to be Milford's first mayor, running on the Democrat ticket in the next ensuing municipal election in 1959.
At that time Republican candidate and major local power broker, Clarence Platt, refer to the then 37-year old Jepson derisively as “the Boy.”
Jepson recalled that his young daughter asked him why his good friend would say such mean things of her daddy. “It's just politics. We’re still friends,” Alan replied.
But both Jepson and Platt lost to town manager Charles Iovino (MHOF 2016), who received a record setting write-in vote. Undeterred, Jepson was elected in own right as Milford's second mayor in 1963. He served three terms until the 1969 election loss to Republican Ed Kozlowski (MHOF 2022.)
During Alan's tenure, the city acquired the former YMCA camp Clark, now to 330-acre Eisenhower Park.
For Milford 325th anniversary in 1964, Jepson teamed up with Superintendent of Schools Joseph Foran (MHOF 2009) to challenge the students of the city’s two high schools to design a new city flag. The seal of Milford was long established as a conjoined “MF.” Law junior Karen D. Saloomey won with a handsome design - an octagonal band in Latin describing the city surrounding the seal and Ansantawae’s (MHOF 2008) “mark”, in turn surrounded by oak leaf clusters and two stars on a blue field. Milford had its flag and a grand and memorable anniversary celebration.
Post WWII urban renewal efforts and trends fostered by the federal government affected Milford. West side Myrtle at Walnut Beaches became more controversial in Jepson's years as mayor. Whereas once motorists could drive along the shore all the way from Milford Point to West Haven blocked only by the circling of the harbor - the creation of Silver Sands State Park blocked that connection.
This ultimately caused the loss of economic redevelopment of Walnut Beach amusement area so well remembered in the Milford book Sand in our Shoes, which was a done deal well before Jepson's tenure - the states acquisition of Silver Sands began after Hurricane Diane in 1955, with land transferred completed by 1960.
Actual development of the state park languished for decades and once grand plans for a hotel and conference center, and a marina at the foot of a revitalized Naugatuck Avenue never materialized.
Jepson's political career turned south for time, losing the mayoralty in 1969 and again to MHOF founder Jerry Patton for the 119th District statehouse in the 1970s. Alan remained active in the Democratic Party while raising a brood of girls: Linda, Susan, Margot, Nancy and Paula. He kept busy, however, reminiscing 1987 that he only spent two months not working throughout his life.
On a rainy June 7, 1982 Alan and wife Betty were taking in “Chariots of Fire” at the Capitol Theatre, Daniel Street. Water started to rise in the theater. A torrential storm and three days of rain the preceded it turned a peaceful Wepawaug River into a raging torrent that divided the city in half and wreaked much of downtown.
Alan stepped up and processed disaster loans for FEMA for the affected property owners in the ensuing year under the Alberta Jagoe mayoral administration.
Throughout his life he remained active while out of elective office, serving as Democratic Connecticut State Auditor and as a Block Grant administrator in Milford among other roles.
By 1987 he was working as the city’s Community Development Director when he ran for the city clerk office to replace the very long serving and retiring Milford legend in her own right, Margaret Egan.
Jepson won and went onto serve a very long time, too - 11 terms, 22 years, until his retirement in 2009. Remaining popular throughout, Jepson usually ran unopposed and was often cross endorsed by the Republicans.
Among other activities, Alan was: a 25 year volunteer with Flotilla 73, Coast Guard Auxiliary; a member (since 1976) and president (1995) of the Milford Rotary, a parishioner, senior warden and choir member at St. Peter's Episcopal church; president of the local American Red Cross; member of the WWII Veterans Memorial Committee: the United Way; Boy Scouts, and other civic organizations in Milford.
In 2001, Jepson received the “Living Treasure” award given by the Milford Junior Women's Club. About that time, he was also introduced to and enjoyed yoga. Shortly after his death, US Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn, said, “It is difficult to put into words what Alan Jepson has meant to the Milford community. Alan was a reflection of all that we hope and expect community leaders to be.”
Jerry Patton committed, “Even though we ran against each other, I can say that he was the one guy I could always vote for, even though I'm a Republican.”
Current mayor Benjamin Blake honored Jepson’s memory, saying “Alan was a mentor to me and many, many others in public service … A gentleman’s gentleman.”
Alan served as a charter member of the Milford Hall of Fame until his death. For his part, Alan loved Milford back, often saying, “The best people in the world live here.”
Both a city roadway, Jepson Drive, and the Alan H. Jepson Manor Public Housing Development in Walnut Beach, were named in his honor during his lifetime.
