Reuben T. Wood | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Wood in 1936 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMissouri's6th district | |
| In office March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1941 | |
| Preceded by | Clement C. Dickinson |
| Succeeded by | Philip A. Bennett |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1881-03-05)March 5, 1881 |
| Died | July 16, 1955(1955-07-16) (aged 70) Springfield, Missouri, US |
| Party | Democratic |
| Occupation | Politician, trade unionist |
Reuben "Rube"Terrell Wood (August 7, 1884 – July 16, 1955) was an American politician and trade unionist. He served as a member of theUnited States House of Representatives fromMissouri.
Wood was born on August 7, 1884, on a farm nearSpringfield, Missouri, the son of educator H. N. B. Wood. He was educated at public schools and began working as a cigar maker at age eighteen.[1] He involved himself in trade unionism, working as an organizer of the Springfield Central Labor Council from 1902 to 1912, then from 1912 to 1932, he served as president of the Missouri branch of theAFL-CIO,[2] though researchers at theDuane G. Meyer Library suggest he continually held the position through his tenure in Congress and until retirement; this would make him the only U.S. Representative ever to head their respective state trade union while silumtaneously in Congress.[3]
ADemocrat, Wood representedMissouri's 6th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives, from March 4, 1933, to January 3, 1941. Due to a disagreement on redistricting by theMissouri General Assembly, all Missouri Representatives were elected at-large in 1932; this led to Representatives he andJames E. Ruffin both being from Missouri.[3] During the76th Congress, he served on the House Committee on War Claims, which handled damages caused by United States soldiers.[2] In 1940, the Missouri Central Labor Union suggested toFranklin D. Roosevelt that Wood be nominated asUnited States Secretary of Labor.[4] He lost his 1940 re-election toPhilip A. Bennett. He attended the 1944 Missouri Constitutional Convention.[2]
Active during theNew Deal era,[3] Wood was accused of associating with theSocialist Party of America due to having his name confused for one Rueben P. Wood.[5][6] Although he denied being a socialist,[7] he associated with socialists through his trade unionist activities, such asGottlieb A. Hoehn, who composed a Congressionalcampaign song for him.[8]
After serving in Congress, Wood returned to the Missouri branch of the AFL-CIO, serving as its president until retiring in May 1953.[2] On December 31, 1936, he married Mary Ellen Eshman.[9][10] He died on July 16, 1955, aged 70, at theBurge Hospital in Springfield, from amyocardial infarction.[1] He is buried in Greenlawn Cemetery.[2] After his death, the Missouri CIO honored him.[11]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMissouri's 6th congressional district 1933–1941 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
