30 Facts About Gordon Browning

Gordon Weaver Browning was an American politician who served as the 38th governor of Tennessee from 1937 to 1939, and again from 1949 to 1953.

Gordon Browning served six terms in the US House of Representatives, from 1923 to 1935, and was Chancellor of Tennessee's Eighth Chancery District in the 1940s.

Gordon Browning graduated with a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Pedagogy in 1913.

Gordon Browning taught school briefly before enrolling in the Cumberland School of Law in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Gordon Browning graduated in 1915, and was admitted to the bar shortly afterward.

In June 1917, after the US entry into World War I, Gordon Browning enlisted in the Tennessee National Guard as a 2nd lieutenant in Company D of the First Tennessee Field Artillery.

Gordon Browning represented this district for five consecutive terms, and represented the 7th district for one term following redistricting.

In 1934, Gordon Browning sought the Democratic Party nomination for the US Senate seat that had been vacated when Cordell Hull resigned to become Secretary of State.

Crump, who was at the height of his power after the downfall of his rival, Luke Lea, and Gordon Browning struggled with voters in East Tennessee.

Gordon Browning was defeated by Bachman, 166,293 votes to 121,169.

Gordon Browning sought the party's nomination, his chief opponent being Campbell County school superintendent Burgin Dossett.

Gordon Browning coasted to victory in the primary, and defeated the Republican candidate, Pat Thach, 332,523 votes to 77,392 in the general election.

Gordon Browning had campaigned on cleaning up state government, getting the debt under control, and maintaining statewide prohibition.

Gordon Browning created the Department of Conservation, implemented the state portions of several federal programs aimed at providing Depression-era relief, and created a civil service merit system.

Furthermore, Gordon Browning had angered Crump by appointing several of Luke Lea's former associates to government positions, while ignoring Crump's requests for appointments.

Gordon Browning formed a commission to investigate voter fraud in Shelby County, and managed to have over 13,000 voters purged.

Gordon Browning's efforts fell short and he was defeated by Cooper, 231,852 votes to 158,854.

Gordon Browning finally appealed directly to the Army's adjutant general in Washington, and was commissioned in 1943 with the rank of captain.

Gordon Browning attended the School of Military Government in Charlottesville, Virginia, which trained military officers in matters related to governing occupied territories, and was eventually promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Gordon Browning initially served as deputy head of the Belgium-Luxembourg mission, which aimed to restore civilian government to these areas, and aided in the Allied victory at the Battle of the Bulge in early 1945.

In September 1946, Gordon Browning was appointed commander of the military government in the Bremen enclave as part of the Allied Occupation of Germany.

Gordon Browning challenged incumbent Governor Jim Nance McCord for the nomination in 1946, though he was still in Europe and did not actively campaign.

Gordon Browning compared Crump to Adolf Hitler, and told stories about Crump sneaking through Memphis cemeteries at night to find names of dead people to add to voter lists.

On election day, Gordon Browning defeated McCord for the nomination, 231,852 votes to 158,854, and Kefauver defeated Stewart.

Gordon Browning signed legislation that partially eliminated the state's poll tax, which political bosses had used for decades to control votes.

Gordon Browning lost to Clement in the primary, 302,487 votes to 245,156.

Gordon Browning again challenged Clement for the party's nomination for governor in 1954, but was defeated by a large margin.

Gordon Browning remained active in the Democratic Party travelling frequently to attend party functions.

Gordon Browning operated a dairy farm and an insurance firm.

Gordon Browning died on May 23,1976, and was buried in Huntingdon's Oak Hill Cemetery.