Ernest W. Gibson Jr. Papers

Ernest William Gibson Jr., Republican, was born in Brattleboro, Vermont, March 6, 1901; graduated from Brattleboro High School, 1919; Norwich University (A.B. 1923); and attended George Washington University Law School at night from 1924-1927. Practiced law in Brattleboro since 1927. He held the following degrees: A.B., LL.D., D.J.S.

Pre-World War II Political Activities. Assistant secretary, Vermont State Senate, 1931-1933. Secretary, Vermont State Senate, 1933-1940; United States Senator to fill out term of his father, the Honorable Ernest W. Gibson, from June, 1940 to January, 1941; national chairman, Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies (so-called William Allen White Committee), January 1941 to May, 1941.

Military Service. Assigned to the 43rd Infantry Division; went overseas with the 43rd Division September, 1942, into the South Pacific area. He served as deputy director, Intelligence Branch, Military Intelligence Service, Washington, D.C. January, 1944 to September, 1945; was discharged as colonel December 25, 1945. He was wounded while overseas. Holder of following decorations: Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, War Department Citation.

Governor and Judge. Elected governor of Vermont, November, 1946; reelected governor November, 1948. Nominated for Federal Judgeship by President Truman, September, 1949; confirmed by U.S. Senate; resigned as governor of Vermont January 15, 1950; sworn in as U.S. District Judge January 16, 1950. He married Dorothy Switzer in 1926 and together they had three sons and one daughter. After his first wife's death, he married Mrs. Ann Haag. Became chief federal judge of the District of Vermont in 1966. In 1968 he presided over the investigation into the "Irasburg Affair".

Ernest William Gibson, Jr. died in Brattleboro on November 4, 1969 after a stroke, age 68, survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter.

Preston Fullerton Gibson was born in Brattleboro, Vermont on January 22, 1908. He attended Brattleboro Schools and was graduated from the High School in 1925 and from Norwich University in 1930. During part of his father's tenure as Representative to Congress, he lived and worked in Washington where he attended the National Law School. Upon returning to Vermont he clerked in his brother's law office and was admitted to the Vermont Bar in 1933. From a legal and political family, he immediately began both the practice of law and politics.

He supported Charles Smith of Rutland for Governor, disagreeing with his father and brother, and as a result was appointed Brattleboro Municipal Judge in 1935, becoming the youngest Municipal Judge to serve the State of Vermont up to that time. He served as Municipal Judge until 1939 when he became associated with his brother Ernest in the practice of law.

Always prominent in politics, he did not aspire to public office, being content to serve on the Vermont Young Republican Committee, the State Republican Committee and at other Republican organizational levels, including delegate to the National Convention in 1952. In the long years of service by his brother, Ernest, as United States Senator and Governor of Vermont, Preston became his closest silent advisor.

Preston spent three years in military service in World War II and was discharged as a Captain in 1945, when he was appointed to the State's Veteran's Board and long served as a Trustee of the Vermont Soldiers' Home.

He was a member of the Brattleboro Country Club, The Lodge of Masons, The American Legion, The Outing Club, and the Lions. He served several years as president of the Brattleboro High School Alumni Association. His friends in Brattleboro established a Memorial Fund in his memory - a tribute to him for the good he did for Brattleboro.

Preston Gibson died in Brattleboro at the age of 47 on December 30, 1955. He was the son of Grace Hadley Gibson and Ernest W. Gibson, brother of Ernest W. Gibson (Jr.), and husband of Elizabeth Brown Gibson.

Ernest W. Gibson Sr. was born in Londonderry, Vermont in December, 1871 as the son of William L. Gibson and Saville Stowell. He attended the Black River Academy at Ludlow where he was a classmate of Calvin Coolidge. In 1894 Gibson received a Bachelor of Science degree and in 1896 a Master of Arts from Norwich University. After graduation he acted as principal of Chester High School for four years (1894-1998) and began studying law. On November 25, 1896 Gibson married Grace Fullerton Hadley (1874-1925) while in Chester. In 1898 Gibson finished his studies at the University of Michigan and after being admitted to the Vermont Bar in 1899 he opened a practice in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Gibson began serving in the military in 1899 when he moved to Brattleboro and enlisted in the Vermont National Guard. He became Captain of Company 1, and held this post for four years until he resigned in 1908. He returned to service in 1915 to take part in the Mexican Border Expedition and served in World War I for two years, a part of which was spent overseas. In February, 1919 he returned and was discharged. However, he continued his work for the military establishing a war risk office in Brattleboro and assisting the 172nd infantry in many capacities. He became the first Colonel in this unit and held the post until 1923 with his election to Congress.

Gibson's political career began while he was studying lay in Chester with his post as Registrar of Probate for the District of Winsor. He continued in this post until he moved to Brattleboro whereupon he was appointed Deputy Clerk of the United States Court for the District of Vermont. In 1906 Gibson was elected a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Brattleboro, from 1907 to 1911 he served as the first judge of the Brattleboro Municipal Court, and in 1908 he was elected to the Vermont State Senate, serving as the President Pro Tempore. Gibson was an unsuccessful candidate for Lieutenant Governor against Justice Slack in 1910, but in 1912 was elected delegate to the Republican National Convention to pledge support for Theodore Roosevelt. In 1919, having returned from military service in World War 1, Gibson was appointed State's Attorney for Windham County and served for almost two years. In 1921 he served only a few months as Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs for Governor Hartness. Upon Porter Dale's resignation from the House of Representatives in 1923, Gibson ran successfully for the seat from the second Congressional District of Vermont. He held his office until the two Congressional Districts of Vermont were abolished and was then elected the first sole Congressman from Vermont.

In 1934 upon the death of Senator Porter Dale, Gibson was appointed by Governor Wilson to fill out the term and was re-elected in 1938. During his terms as Senator, Gibson made official visits to the Phillippines in order to investigate conditions and establish trade agreements leading to the independence of the Islands. Gibson also fought for twelve years for the development of Gravelly Point (MD) as a national airport which was dedicated on September 28, 1940 - four months after his death. Ernest W. Gibson, Sr. died on June 20, 1940. He was survived by two sons, Ernest W., Jr. (1901-1969) and Preston (1908-1955), and a daughter, Doris (1903-1947). A son Frank (1899-1922) and his wife Grace had predeceased him.