Ernest W. Gibson Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ernest W. Gibson Jr.
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| Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont | |
| In office 1966–1969 |
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| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Bernard Joseph Leddy |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont | |
| In office October 18, 1949 – November 4, 1969 |
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| Appointed by | Harry S. Truman |
| Preceded by | James Patrick Leamy |
| Succeeded by | James L. Oakes |
| 67th Governor of Vermont | |
| In office January 9, 1947 – January 16, 1950 |
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| Lieutenant | Lee E. Emerson Harold J. Arthur |
| Preceded by | Mortimer R. Proctor |
| Succeeded by | Harold J. Arthur |
| United States Senator from Vermont |
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| In office June 24, 1940 – January 3, 1941 |
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| Appointed by | George Aiken |
| Preceded by | Ernest Willard Gibson |
| Succeeded by | George Aiken |
| Secretary of the Vermont Senate | |
| In office February 2, 1933 – January 7, 1941 |
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| Preceded by | Murdock A. Campbell |
| Succeeded by | Willsie E. Brisbin |
| State's Attorney of Windham County, Vermont | |
| In office February 1, 1929 – January 1, 1933 |
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| Preceded by | Roger A. Brackett |
| Succeeded by | Ralph E. Edwards |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ernest William Gibson Jr.
March 6, 1901 Brattleboro, Vermont, U.S. |
| Died | November 4, 1969 (aged 68) Brattleboro, Vermont, U.S. |
| Resting place | Morningside Cemetery Brattleboro, Vermont, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses | Dorothy P. Switzer (m. 1926–1958, her death) Ann H. Haag (m. 1961–1969, his death) |
| Children | 4, including Ernest III |
| Parents | Ernest W. Gibson Grace Fullerton (Hadley) Gibson |
| Education | Norwich University (A.B.) George Washington University Law School |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States ArmyUnited States Army Reserve Vermont National Guard |
| Years of service | 1922–1945 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Unit | 43rd Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
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Ernest William Gibson Jr. (born March 6, 1901 – died November 4, 1969) was an American lawyer, politician, and judge. He served as a United States Senator for a short time, was the 67th governor of Vermont, and later became a federal judge.
Born in Brattleboro, Vermont, Ernest Jr. was the son of a well-known Vermont politician who also served in the U.S. Senate. Ernest Jr. graduated from Norwich University in 1923. He then studied law at The George Washington University Law School and became a lawyer in 1926. He was a member of the Republican Party.
He held several elected and appointed jobs in Vermont's state government. When his father passed away while serving in the Senate, Ernest Jr. was chosen to temporarily fill the empty spot. He served from June 1940 to January 1941.
Ernest Jr. was a veteran of the United States Army Reserve and the Vermont National Guard. During World War II, he served in the South Pacific and worked for the United States Department of War. He received several awards for his bravery. In 1946, he ran for Governor of Vermont and won, even defeating the current governor in the Republican primary. This was the only time that had ever happened in Vermont. He was re-elected in 1948.
Gibson served as governor until he was appointed as a judge for Vermont's U.S. District Court. He worked as a judge until his death in 1969 in Brattleboro. He was buried at Morningside Cemetery in Brattleboro.
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Early Life and Education
Ernest William Gibson Jr. was born on March 6, 1901, in Brattleboro, Vermont. His parents were Grace Fullerton Hadley and Ernest Willard Gibson, who later became a U.S. Representative and Senator.
Ernest Jr. went to public schools in Brattleboro. He then graduated from Norwich University in 1923 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. While there, he was part of the Theta Chi International Fraternity. He studied law at The George Washington University Law School and also learned law by working in his father's office. He became a lawyer in 1926.
While studying law, he also taught at the New York Military Academy in Cornwall, New York. He also worked as a mathematician for the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.
Military Service and Early Ranks
Ernest Jr. joined the United States Army Reserve and the Vermont National Guard when he was young. In 1922, he started as a private in the National Guard's Company I, 172nd Infantry Regiment.
By 1924, he was a first lieutenant, leading Troop B, 316th Cavalry Regiment. In 1928, he was a private first class in Company I, 172nd Infantry. By 1934, he was a captain in the Organized Reserve Corps, assigned to the 316th Cavalry. In 1937, he returned to the Vermont National Guard as a first lieutenant. By 1939, he was a captain and an aide to Brigadier General Leonard F. Wing, who commanded the 86th Infantry Brigade.
Early Career in Law and Politics
Ernest Gibson Jr. started his law practice in Brattleboro in 1927. As a Republican, he held several important positions.
He was the State's Attorney for Windham County from 1929 to 1933. He also worked for the Vermont Senate, first as assistant secretary from 1931 to 1933, and then as secretary from 1933 to 1940.
During his time with the Senate, Gibson was part of a group of friends who were all lawyers, Republicans, and National Guard members. This group included Leonard F. Wing, Harold J. Arthur, Murdock A. Campbell, and Francis William Billado.
Serving as a U.S. Senator
On June 24, 1940, Governor George Aiken chose Ernest Gibson Jr. to join the United States Senate. He filled the spot left empty when his father, Ernest Willard Gibson, passed away.
Ernest Jr. served as Senator from June 24, 1940, to January 3, 1941. He decided not to run for election to keep the seat permanently. Instead, Governor Aiken, a family friend, took his place. People believed that Gibson accepted the temporary job to help Aiken get elected. Gibson wanted to be Governor later, so he was happy to serve for a short time and then let Aiken become Senator.
Service in World War II
From January to May 1941, Ernest Gibson Jr. was a leader in the Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies. This group supported helping the countries fighting against Germany and its allies before the United States officially joined World War II.
Gibson volunteered for active duty during the war. He served in the South Pacific as an intelligence officer with the 43rd Infantry Division. Later, he worked on the intelligence staff at the United States Department of War. He was promoted to major in July 1942 and to lieutenant colonel in November 1942.
While serving in the Pacific, Gibson was injured. A newspaper photo showing him getting his head bandaged after being wounded was seen around the world. This made him quite famous as a former Senator who was now a soldier.
After John F. Kennedy and his crew from PT-109 were rescued, a special coconut shell came into Gibson's possession. Kennedy had scratched a message asking for help on it. Gibson later gave the coconut shell back to Kennedy. Kennedy kept it as a paperweight on his desk when he was president. Today, it is on display at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston, Massachusetts.
Gibson left the military in September 1945, after being promoted to colonel. He received several awards for his service, including the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, and the Purple Heart.
Governor of Vermont
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In 1946, many people in Vermont thought Leonard F. Wing, a commander from the war, would run for Governor. The big question was if the current Governor, Mortimer R. Proctor, would run again or step aside for Wing.
However, Wing passed away in December 1945, soon after returning from the war. With Wing no longer in the race, Gibson decided to announce his own candidacy. Governor Proctor chose to run for re-election, which led to a rare primary election between two Republicans.
Gibson was a progressive thinker and argued against the old ways of the Republican Party. He spoke out against unwritten rules like the "Mountain Rule," which limited governors to two years in office. He appealed to war veterans and younger voters, asking for new ideas and action. He said that this rule allowed a small group of people to choose governors almost 10 years in advance.
The "Mountain Rule" had been around since the 1850s. It meant that candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor were chosen years ahead of time and alternated between the east and west sides of the Green Mountains. Governors usually served only two years. Even U.S. Senators were chosen this way. Because of these strong party rules, Republicans won every statewide election in Vermont for over 100 years.
Gibson defeated Proctor and won the general election in 1946. This victory was seen as a big change, showing that Vermont voters wanted new political practices and traditions. It was a rebellion against old ways and a call for more active government.
He won re-election in 1948 and served as Governor from January 1947 to January 1950. During his first term, Gibson focused on improving state services. He wanted to expand and modernize highways, improve health services, and make education and social welfare programs better. To pay for these changes, which created the largest state budget in Vermont's history ($31 million), Gibson successfully pushed for an increase in the state income tax.
Gibson resigned from his position as governor to become a federal judge. Harold J. Arthur took over as governor.
Federal Judicial Service
Ernest Gibson Jr. was sometimes frustrated with the Vermont General Assembly and the Republican Party in Vermont, which were more conservative than he was. He considered leaving the governorship early instead of trying for a third term.
On September 15, 1949, President Harry S. Truman nominated Gibson to be a judge for the United States District Court for the District of Vermont. This position became open when Judge James Patrick Leamy passed away. The United States Senate confirmed his appointment on October 15, 1949, and he officially started his job on October 18, 1949.
He served as Chief Judge from 1966 to 1969. His service ended on November 4, 1969, when he passed away.
Other Public Service
In 1956, Gibson was appointed as a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army. This program uses well-known people in each state to help build good relationships between civilians and the Army. They make sure the public knows about Army projects and programs.
Important Law Clerks
During his time as a judge, Gibson had several important law clerks. These included M. Jerome Diamond and James M. Jeffords, who worked for Gibson from 1962 to 1963.
According to Jeffords, a lesson from Gibson influenced his decision to leave the Republican Party in 2001, which changed which party controlled the United States Senate. Jeffords said that Gibson once focused more on what was fair than on strict legal rules in a case about skiing. When Jeffords asked about this, Gibson said, "Never let the law get in the way of justice; justice is what counts." Jeffords stated that he thought about this quote often when making big decisions, including his choice to leave the Republicans.
The Irasburg Investigation
In 1969, Judge Gibson led a committee to investigate the 1968 "Irasburg Affair." This event involved an African American minister in Irasburg who was targeted by people trying to force him out of Vermont. This included police bothering him and someone firing gunshots into his home. Gibson's commission found that local and state authorities, including members of the Vermont State Police, had made mistakes in handling the situation.
Death and Burial
Ernest Gibson Jr. passed away in Brattleboro on November 4, 1969. He was buried in Brattleboro's Morningside Cemetery.
Honors and Awards
Ernest Gibson Jr. received several special degrees during his life. These included an honorary Doctor of Law (LL.D.) from the University of Vermont in 1947. He also received a Doctor of Juridical Science (DJS) from Suffolk University Law School in 1958. After his death, he received another honorary LL.D. from Saint Michael's College in November 1969.
Family Life
Ernest Gibson Jr. married Dorothy P. Switzer (1902–1958) on October 9, 1926. They had four children together. After Dorothy's death, he married Ann H. Haag in 1961.
His son, Ernest W. Gibson III (1927–2020), became an Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court. His daughter, Grace Gibson Newcomer (born 1930), was a professor at Westchester Community College. His son, Robert H. Gibson (1931–1999), served as Assistant Secretary and then Secretary of the Vermont Senate. His son, David A. Gibson (1936–2010), served in the Vermont State Senate and later became Senate Secretary.
