Thomas Bahnson Stanley
Encyclopedia
Thomas Bahnson Stanley (July 16, 1890 – July 10, 1970) was an American
politician, manufacturer and Holstein
cattle breeder.
, youngest of seven children. He married Anne Pocahontas Bassett (November 28, 1898 – October 20, 1979) on October 24, 1918 in Bassett, Virginia
. Anne was the daughter of John David Bassett (July 14, 1866 – February 26, 1965), a founder of Bassett Furniture
, and Nancy Pocahontas Hundley (November 21, 1862 – January 11, 1953). Stanley graduated from Eastman Business College
in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1912.
, a leading Virginia furniture
maker, in what would become Stanleytown, Virginia
. His sons Thomas Bahnson Stanley, Jr. and John David Stanley joined him at Stanley Furniture.
candidate he defeated Republican
Theodore Roosevelt Dalton
and Independent Howard Carwile
in the general election for Governor of Virginia
in 1953. He served as the Governor of Virginia from 1954 to 1958. Before becoming governor, Stanley was the Speaker
of the Virginia House of Delegates
and a U.S. Representative in Congress
from November 5, 1946, filling vacancy created when Thomas G. Burch
resigned to assume U. S. Senate seat, until Stanley resigned on February 3, 1953 to run for Virginia's governor. As governor Stanley improved the administration of state hospitals and increased funding to mental hospitals and public schools.
While governor Stanley became embroiled in conflict. The budget fight between the Old Guard and the Young Turks over budget surpluses in the 1954 legislative session colored relations in the Democratic Party for a generation. Brown v. Board of Education
was decided during his term, and his initial efforts to preserve segregation through legislative means were hamstrung by U.S. Senator
Harry Byrd, Sr.
, and his Massive Resistance
campaign.
on July 10, 1970 and is buried in Roselawn Burial Park.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, manufacturer and Holstein
Holstein (cattle)
Holstein cattle is a breed of cattle known today as the world's highest production dairy animal. Originating in Europe, Holsteins were bred in what is now the Netherlands and more specifically in the two northern provinces of North Holland and Friesland...
cattle breeder.
Early life
He was born to Crockett Stanley (January 8, 1838 – March 12, 1915) and Susan Matilda Walker (August 17, 1845 – April 9, 1922) on a farm near Spencer, Henry County, VirginiaSpencer, Virginia
Spencer is an unincorporated community in Henry County, Virginia, United States. It takes its name from its earliest settler, James Spencer Sr., who moved from Loudoun County to Henry County with his sons in the eighteenth century. Spencer's son ensign James Spencer, Jr. died of wounds suffered...
, youngest of seven children. He married Anne Pocahontas Bassett (November 28, 1898 – October 20, 1979) on October 24, 1918 in Bassett, Virginia
Bassett, Virginia
Bassett is a census-designated place in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,338 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area. The town was founded along a rail line by the same family that later started Bassett Furniture. Bassett...
. Anne was the daughter of John David Bassett (July 14, 1866 – February 26, 1965), a founder of Bassett Furniture
Bassett Furniture
Bassett Furniture is a furniture manufacturer headquartered in Bassett, Virginia, United States.It was founded in 1902 by John David Bassett and C.C. Bassett...
, and Nancy Pocahontas Hundley (November 21, 1862 – January 11, 1953). Stanley graduated from Eastman Business College
Eastman Business College
The Eastman Business College was a business school located in Poughkeepsie, New York.It was founded in 1859 by Harvey G. Eastman, and was for a time one of the largest commercial schools in the United States....
in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1912.
Business
Stanley worked for his father-in-law's company, Bassett Furniture, as an executive, until 1924, when he left and founded Stanley FurnitureStanley Furniture
Stanley Furniture is an American furniture manufacturer based in Stanleytown, Henry County, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1924 by Thomas Bahnson Stanley, who later became governor of Virginia....
, a leading Virginia furniture
Virginia furniture
Virginia furniture has a long tradition, from the colonial period to today.-Colonial period:In colonial days, when cabinetmaker Anthony Hay made furniture in Colonial Williamsburg, at least six shops catered to local tastes. As the colony grew in taste and sophistication, shops developed in other...
maker, in what would become Stanleytown, Virginia
Stanleytown, Virginia
Stanleytown is a census-designated place in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,515 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Stanleytown is located at ....
. His sons Thomas Bahnson Stanley, Jr. and John David Stanley joined him at Stanley Furniture.
Politics
As the DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate he defeated Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Theodore Roosevelt Dalton
Theodore Roosevelt Dalton
Theodore Roosevelt Dalton American lawyer,judge and politician known as "Ted" and as Virginia's "Mr. Republican".- Family :...
and Independent Howard Carwile
Howard Carwile
Howard Hearnes Carwile was an American lawyer and politician.-Family:Howard Carwile was born in Charlotte County, Virginia, to parents Willis Early Carwile...
in the general election for Governor of Virginia
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
in 1953. He served as the Governor of Virginia from 1954 to 1958. Before becoming governor, Stanley was the Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
and a U.S. Representative in Congress
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 November 5, 1946, filling vacancy created when Thomas G. Burch
Thomas G. Burch
Thomas Granville Burch was an American farmer, tobacco manufacturer, and politician from Martinsville, Virginia. He represented Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1931 until 1946. In 1946 he served as a U.S...
resigned to assume U. S. Senate seat, until Stanley resigned on February 3, 1953 to run for Virginia's governor. As governor Stanley improved the administration of state hospitals and increased funding to mental hospitals and public schools.
While governor Stanley became embroiled in conflict. The budget fight between the Old Guard and the Young Turks over budget surpluses in the 1954 legislative session colored relations in the Democratic Party for a generation. Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 , was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The decision overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 which...
was decided during his term, and his initial efforts to preserve segregation through legislative means were hamstrung by U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Harry Byrd, Sr.
Harry F. Byrd
Harry Flood Byrd, Sr. of Berryville in Clarke County, Virginia, was an American newspaper publisher, farmer and politician. He was a descendant of one of the First Families of Virginia...
, and his Massive Resistance
Massive resistance
Massive resistance was a policy declared by U.S. Senator Harry F. Byrd, Sr. on February 24, 1956, to unite other white politicians and leaders in Virginia in a campaign of new state laws and policies to prevent public school desegregation after the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision...
campaign.
Death
He died in Martinsville, VirginiaMartinsville, Virginia
Martinsville is an independent city which is surrounded by Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 13,821 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Martinsville with Henry County for statistical purposes...
on July 10, 1970 and is buried in Roselawn Burial Park.