US Congressman. He represented the 4th district of Alabama in Congress as a member of the Democratic party from June 1921 until January 1935. He was born in Anniston, Alabama and attended the public schools there as well as the Alabama Presbyterian College at Anniston. In 1904 he joined the Alabama National Guard, serving until 1914. In January 1917 he became the clerk of the circuit court of Calhoun County, but resigned the following May and entered the US Army after the US entry into World War I, serving with the 82nd Division in France as a captain. During this time he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in combat near Saint-Juvin, France on October 11, 1918, during which he was seriously wounded, and was promoted to rank of major of infantry. After the end of hostilities, he returned to the US and was elected as a Democrat to the 67th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Fred L. Blackmon. He was reelected for six additional terms and served as chairman of the Committee on Civil Service during the last four years of his service. While in office, he attended law school in Washington DC and practiced law there during the 1920s. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1934 and eventually moved to Daytona Beach, Florida where he died at the age of 95.
US Congressman. He represented the 4th district of Alabama in Congress as a member of the Democratic party from June 1921 until January 1935. He was born in Anniston, Alabama and attended the public schools there as well as the Alabama Presbyterian College at Anniston. In 1904 he joined the Alabama National Guard, serving until 1914. In January 1917 he became the clerk of the circuit court of Calhoun County, but resigned the following May and entered the US Army after the US entry into World War I, serving with the 82nd Division in France as a captain. During this time he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in combat near Saint-Juvin, France on October 11, 1918, during which he was seriously wounded, and was promoted to rank of major of infantry. After the end of hostilities, he returned to the US and was elected as a Democrat to the 67th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Fred L. Blackmon. He was reelected for six additional terms and served as chairman of the Committee on Civil Service during the last four years of his service. While in office, he attended law school in Washington DC and practiced law there during the 1920s. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1934 and eventually moved to Daytona Beach, Florida where he died at the age of 95.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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