Harley M. Kilgore
Encyclopedia
Harley Martin Kilgore was a United States Senator from West Virginia
.
Born in Brown, West Virginia
, he attended the public schools and graduated from the law department of West Virginia University
at Morgantown
in 1914 and was admitted to the bar
the same year.
He taught school in Hancock, West Virginia
in 1914 and 1915, and organized the first high school in Raleigh County, West Virginia
in the latter year. He was the school's first principal for a year, and commenced the practice of law in Beckley, West Virginia
in 1916. During the First World War he served in the infantry from 1917 and was discharged as a captain in 1920; in 1921 he organized the West Virginia National Guard
and retired as a colonel in 1953.
He was judge of the Raleigh County criminal court from 1933 to 1940, and was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in 1940, and won re-election twice. He was a member of the Senate from January 3, 1941 until his death in Bethesda Naval Hospital in 1956. From October 1942, he chaired the Subcommittee on War Mobilization of the Military Affairs Committee, otherwise known as the Kilgore Committee, that oversaw U.S. mobilization efforts for World War II
. He also helped establish the National Science Foundation
in 1950.
Senator Kilgore was West Virginia's favorite-son candidate in 1948 Democratic presidential primaries
and won his home state unopposed.
He died in 1956, aged 63 and was interred was in Arlington National Cemetery
.
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
.
Born in Brown, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, he attended the public schools and graduated from the law department of West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
at Morgantown
Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It is the county seat of Monongalia County. Placed along the banks of the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia, and the base of the Morgantown metropolitan area...
in 1914 and was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
the same year.
He taught school in Hancock, West Virginia
Hancock, West Virginia
Hancock is an unincorporated hamlet in Morgan County in the U.S. state of West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. It is located off of Hancock Road on River Road along the Potomac River north of Berkeley Springs...
in 1914 and 1915, and organized the first high school in Raleigh County, West Virginia
Raleigh County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 79,220 people, 31,793 households, and 22,096 families residing in the county. The population density was 130 people per square mile . There were 35,678 housing units at an average density of 59 per square mile...
in the latter year. He was the school's first principal for a year, and commenced the practice of law in Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley is a city in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States, which was founded on April 4, 1838. The 2008 population was estimated to be 16,832 by the U.S. Census Bureau. Early in its history, the town was known as Beckleyville and Raleigh Court House...
in 1916. During the First World War he served in the infantry from 1917 and was discharged as a captain in 1920; in 1921 he organized the West Virginia National Guard
West Virginia National Guard
The West Virginia National Guard consists of the:*West Virginia Army National GuardTwo units of the West Virginia Army National Guard, the 150th Cavalry and the 201st Field Artillery, are among the nineteen Army National Guard units with campaign credit for the War of 1812.-External links:* *...
and retired as a colonel in 1953.
He was judge of the Raleigh County criminal court from 1933 to 1940, and was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in 1940, and won re-election twice. He was a member of the Senate from January 3, 1941 until his death in Bethesda Naval Hospital in 1956. From October 1942, he chaired the Subcommittee on War Mobilization of the Military Affairs Committee, otherwise known as the Kilgore Committee, that oversaw U.S. mobilization efforts for 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...
. He also helped establish the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
in 1950.
Senator Kilgore was West Virginia's favorite-son candidate in 1948 Democratic presidential primaries
United States presidential election, 1948
The United States presidential election of 1948 is considered by most historians as the greatest election upset in American history. Virtually every prediction indicated that incumbent President Harry S. Truman would be defeated by Republican Thomas E. Dewey. Truman won, overcoming a three-way...
and won his home state unopposed.
He died in 1956, aged 63 and was interred was in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.