Carl D. Perkins
Encyclopedia
Carl Dewey Perkins a Democrat, was a politician
and member of the United States House of Representatives
from the state
of Kentucky
.
. He attended the Knott County, Kentucky
grade schools, Hindman High School, Caney Junior College (now Alice Lloyd College
), Lees Junior College
and graduated from Jefferson School of Law (now the University of Louisville School of Law) in 1935.
Perkins was admitted to the bar in 1935 and commenced the practice of law in his hometown of Hindman, KY. In 1939 Perkins served an unexpired term as Commonwealth's Attorney
for the thirty-first judicial circuit. He was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives
in 1940 and was then elected Knott County Attorney
in 1941 and reelected in 1945. Perkins resigned the county attorney's office on January 1, 1948 to become counsel for the Kentucky Department of Highways.
During World War II
Perkins enlisted in the United States Army
and saw service in Europe
.
. Perkins unseated Meade and was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-first and to the seventeen succeeding Congresses and served from January 3, 1949, until his death. Perkins was the chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor (Ninetieth through Ninety-eighth Congresses, 1967–1984). While a part of the committee, his work helped produce the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964
and Head Start. The local Head Start in his home city of Hindman, Kentucky is named after Congressman Perkins..
until his death on August 3, 1984 in Lexington, Kentucky
. He is buried at Mountain Memory Gardens in Hindman, Kentucky.
Many notable legislators from across the country such as Senator Ted Kennedy
, Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill
, and House Majority Leader Jim Wright
and Congressman William H. Natcher among others came to his funeral which was held in Hindman, Kentucky
at the Morton Combs Athletic Complex on the campus of Knott County Central High School
. The capacity of the gym is 5,000 and it breached capacity that day. Local Southern Baptist pastors such as the Reverends J.S. Bell and Archie Everage delivered the message to the capacity crowd.
Perkins was succeeded in office by his son Carl C. Perkins
.
called the Perkins Loan, named for him, as is the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006
, which provides federal money for career technical education schooling. The Carl D. Perkins Bridge crossing the Ohio River
, the Carl D. Perkins Building on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University
, and the Carl D. Perkins Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Ashland, Kentucky
are named after him. The vocational school in Hindman, Kentucky at Knott County Central High School, Carl D. Perkins Job Corps
at Prestonsburg and Carl D. Perkins Rehab Center at Thelma are also named in his honor.
Carl D. Perkins' grave site is in Hindman, Kentucky
in a public cemetery named "Mountain Memory Gardens". Although, when originally buried he was buried at a private cemetery near his home in Hindman. In 2007 Congressman Perkins's body was moved to where he is presently buried at in Mountain Memory Gardens. Verna J. Perkins sold the old house and the land. Verna has since retired to a home for the elderly in Lexington.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.
Early years
Perkins was born in Hindman, KentuckyHindman, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 787 people, 356 households, and 220 families residing in the city. The population density was 232.5 people per square mile . There were 415 housing units at an average density of 122.6 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 97.59% White, 0.38%...
. He attended the Knott County, Kentucky
Knott County, Kentucky
Knott County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1884. As of 2000, the population was 17,649. Its county seat is Hindman. The county is named for James Proctor Knott, Governor of Kentucky . It is a prohibition or dry county. Notable inhabitants include U.S....
grade schools, Hindman High School, Caney Junior College (now Alice Lloyd College
Alice Lloyd College
Alice Lloyd College is a four-year liberal arts work college in Pippa Passes, Kentucky. It was co-founded by the journalist Alice Spencer Geddes Lloyd, a native of Cambridge, Massachusetts and June Buchanan, a native of New York City, in 1923, at first under the name of Caney Junior College, as an...
), Lees Junior College
Lees College
Lees College was founded on January 8, 1883 by Rev. John J. Dickey in Jackson, Kentucky. It started out as Jackson Academy and was an elementary and high school for the children of Breathitt County by Rev...
and graduated from Jefferson School of Law (now the University of Louisville School of Law) in 1935.
Perkins was admitted to the bar in 1935 and commenced the practice of law in his hometown of Hindman, KY. In 1939 Perkins served an unexpired term as Commonwealth's Attorney
Commonwealth's Attorney
Commonwealth's Attorney is the title given to the elected prosecutor of felony crimes in Kentucky and Virginia. Other states refer to similar prosecutors as District Attorney or State's Attorney....
for the thirty-first judicial circuit. He was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives
Kentucky House of Representatives
The Kentucky House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly. It is composed of 100 Representatives elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. Not more than two counties can be joined to form a House district, except when necessary to preserve...
in 1940 and was then elected Knott County Attorney
County attorney
A county attorney in many areas of the United States is the chief legal officer for a county or local judicial district. It is usually an elected position...
in 1941 and reelected in 1945. Perkins resigned the county attorney's office on January 1, 1948 to become counsel for the Kentucky Department of Highways.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Perkins enlisted in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and saw service in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Congress
In 1948 Perkins ran against the incumbent Congressman from Kentucky's 7th District, Wendell H. MeadeWendell H. Meade
Wendell Howes Meade served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Kentucky's 7th Congressional District during the Eightieth Congress...
. Perkins unseated Meade and was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-first and to the seventeen succeeding Congresses and served from January 3, 1949, until his death. Perkins was the chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor (Ninetieth through Ninety-eighth Congresses, 1967–1984). While a part of the committee, his work helped produce the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964
Economic Opportunity Act of 1964
Signed by Lyndon B. Johnson on August 20, 1964, the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 was central to Johnson's Great Society campaign and its War on Poverty. Implemented by the since disbanded Office of Economic Opportunity, the Act included several social programs to promote the health, education,...
and Head Start. The local Head Start in his home city of Hindman, Kentucky is named after Congressman Perkins..
Death
Perkins was a resident of Hindman, KentuckyHindman, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 787 people, 356 households, and 220 families residing in the city. The population density was 232.5 people per square mile . There were 415 housing units at an average density of 122.6 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 97.59% White, 0.38%...
until his death on August 3, 1984 in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
. He is buried at Mountain Memory Gardens in Hindman, Kentucky.
Many notable legislators from across the country such as Senator Ted Kennedy
Ted Kennedy
Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. Serving almost 47 years, he was the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and is the fourth-longest-serving senator in United States history...
, Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill
Tip O'Neill
Thomas Phillip "Tip" O'Neill, Jr. was an American politician. O'Neill was an outspoken liberal Democrat and influential member of the U.S. Congress, serving in the House of Representatives for 34 years and representing two congressional districts in Massachusetts...
, and House Majority Leader Jim Wright
Jim Wright
James Claude Wright, Jr. , usually known as Jim Wright, is a former Democratic U.S. Congressman from Texas who served 34 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and was the Speaker of the House from 1987 to 1989.-Early life:...
and Congressman William H. Natcher among others came to his funeral which was held in Hindman, Kentucky
Hindman, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 787 people, 356 households, and 220 families residing in the city. The population density was 232.5 people per square mile . There were 415 housing units at an average density of 122.6 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 97.59% White, 0.38%...
at the Morton Combs Athletic Complex on the campus of Knott County Central High School
Knott County Central High School
Knott County Central High School is a high school located in Hindman, Kentucky.It is home to the Knott County Central Patriots, who have claimed several regional titles in basketball, baseball, track, and other sports....
. The capacity of the gym is 5,000 and it breached capacity that day. Local Southern Baptist pastors such as the Reverends J.S. Bell and Archie Everage delivered the message to the capacity crowd.
Perkins was succeeded in office by his son Carl C. Perkins
Carl C. Perkins
Carl Christopher "Chris" Perkins , son of Carl D. Perkins, is a U.S. lawyer and politician who was United States Representative from the 7th district of Kentucky from 1984 to 1993. Perkins served as a Democrat.-Biography:...
.
Legacy
Perkins's legacy of support to education and the under-privileged is shown by the federal student loanStudent loan
A student loan is designed to help students pay for university tuition, books, and living expenses. It may differ from other types of loans in that the interest rate may be substantially lower and the repayment schedule may be deferred while the student is still in education...
called the Perkins Loan, named for him, as is the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006
Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act
The Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act was first authorized by the federal government in 1984 and reauthorized in 1998. Named for Carl D. Perkins, the act aims to increase the quality of technical education within the United States in order to help the economy.On August 12, 2006...
, which provides federal money for career technical education schooling. The Carl D. Perkins Bridge crossing the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
, the Carl D. Perkins Building on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University, commonly referred to as Eastern or by the acronym EKU by local residents, is an undergraduate and graduate teaching and research institution located in Richmond, Kentucky, U.S.A.. EKU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
, and the Carl D. Perkins Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Ashland, Kentucky
Ashland, Kentucky
Ashland, formerly known as Poage Settlement, is a city in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States, nestled along the banks of the Ohio River. The population was 21,981 at the 2000 census. Ashland is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2000 census, the...
are named after him. The vocational school in Hindman, Kentucky at Knott County Central High School, Carl D. Perkins Job Corps
Job Corps
Job Corps is a program administered by the United States Department of Labor that offers free-of-charge education and vocational training to youth ages 16 to 24.-Mission and purpose:...
at Prestonsburg and Carl D. Perkins Rehab Center at Thelma are also named in his honor.
Carl D. Perkins' grave site is in Hindman, Kentucky
Hindman, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 787 people, 356 households, and 220 families residing in the city. The population density was 232.5 people per square mile . There were 415 housing units at an average density of 122.6 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 97.59% White, 0.38%...
in a public cemetery named "Mountain Memory Gardens". Although, when originally buried he was buried at a private cemetery near his home in Hindman. In 2007 Congressman Perkins's body was moved to where he is presently buried at in Mountain Memory Gardens. Verna J. Perkins sold the old house and the land. Verna has since retired to a home for the elderly in Lexington.
See also
- Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education ActCarl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education ActThe Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act was first authorized by the federal government in 1984 and reauthorized in 1998. Named for Carl D. Perkins, the act aims to increase the quality of technical education within the United States in order to help the economy.On August 12, 2006...
- Federal Perkins LoanFederal Perkins LoanA Federal Perkins Loan, or Perkins Loan, is a need-based student loan offered by the U.S. Department of Education to assist American college students in funding their post-secondary education. The program is named after Carl D. Perkins, a former member of the U.S...
- Carl Perkins Bridge