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John Strickland Gibson | |
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| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromGeorgia's8th district | |
| In office January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1947 | |
| Preceded by | Florence R. Gibbs |
| Succeeded by | William M. Wheeler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1893-01-03)January 3, 1893 Charlton County, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | October 19, 1960(1960-10-19) (aged 67) Douglas, Georgia, U.S. |
| Resting place | City Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
John Strickland Gibson (January 3, 1893 – October 19, 1960) was aU.S. Representative fromGeorgia.
Gibson was born nearFolkston, Georgia inCharlton County on January 3, 1893, to William Owen Gibson and Julia Ann Vickery Gibson. He attended the common schools of his county. Upon graduation, he moved toDouglas, Georgia and subsequently attended Georgia State Normal College. Upon graduation, he married Bessie Thomas in April, 1917. Gibson began his legal studies at the office of George Mingledorff, while he finished a correspondence course from LaSalle Extension University ofChicago, Illinois in preparation for the bar exam. He wasadmitted to the bar in 1922 and commenced practice in Douglas in 1923. He was an aggressive courtroom lawyer who specialized in cross-examination and was known for his innate ability to sense the mood of the jury and for his colorful and frequently caustic methods of argument. He became one of Georgia's most feared and admired attorneys, and his excellence as a trial lawyer led to service as solicitor of the city court of Douglas from 1928 to 1934.
In 1934 Gibson was elected as solicitor general of theWaycross judicial circuit, a position equivalent to today's district attorney. He retained that position until 1940.
Gibson's popularity continued to grow, and he was elected as a Democrat to the United States Congress from Georgia's Eighth District, when incumbent W. Ben Gibbs died in office in 1940. Gibson's first term was in the77th United States Congress. He was re-elected two more times. His congressional career spanned the period January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1947. Congressman Gibson served the public tirelessly through the difficult years of World War II, and he is credited with playing a decisive role in the passing of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, better known as theG.I. Bill. During the week of theD-Day invasion of Normandy, a House and Senate conference committee was deadlocked on the bill which would provide housing, education, and job benefits to returning veterans. Congressman Gibson received word that the bill was in jeopardy while he was at home inDouglas, Georgia, recovering from an illness, and in a spectacular overnight journey, he rushed to Washington to remind his peers that American soldiers needed their full support.
When he was unable to secure renomination in 1946. he returned to Douglas, to resumed the practice of law. He died inDouglas, Georgia on October 19, 1960, and was interred in City Cemetery.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromGeorgia's 8th congressional district January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1947 | Succeeded by |
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.
