Thomas Abernethy
Encyclopedia
Thomas Gerstle Abernethy (May 16, 1903 – June 11, 1998) was a member of the United States House of Representatives
. He was born in Eupora, Mississippi
. He attended the local public schools.
He studied at the University of Alabama
, and the University of Mississippi
, and graduated from Cumberland University
in 1924. He was then admitted to the bar and started practicing in his home town through 1929, when he moved to Okolona, Mississippi
. He served as the district attorney for the third judicial district of Mississippi from 1936 through 1942.
In 1942, he was elected as a Democrat
to the United States House of Representatives
, where he served through 1973. He retired to live in Okolona, Mississippi, and Jackson, Mississippi
, until he died in 1998.
President Richard Nixon
in a telephone call with his wife on 2 July 1971 referred to Congressman Abernethy. He noted that he had been at a White House function the previous night and stated that he had been in the Congress for 29 years and that Congressman Abernethy had said to him "did you know that this is the first time in 29 years that I have ever had a bite to eat at the White House". Mr Nixon described him as a "nice man".
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...
. He was born in Eupora, Mississippi
Eupora, Mississippi
Eupora is a city in Webster County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 2,326 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Eupora is located at ....
. He attended the local public schools.
He studied at the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, and the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
, and graduated from Cumberland University
Cumberland University
Cumberland University is a private university in Lebanon, Tennessee, United States. It was founded in 1842, though the current campus buildings were constructed between 1892 and 1896.-History:...
in 1924. He was then admitted to the bar and started practicing in his home town through 1929, when he moved to Okolona, Mississippi
Okolona, Mississippi
Okolona is a city in and one of the county seats of Chickasaw County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 3,056 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Okolona is located at ....
. He served as the district attorney for the third judicial district of Mississippi from 1936 through 1942.
In 1942, he was elected as a Democrat
Democratic 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...
to 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...
, where he served through 1973. He retired to live in Okolona, Mississippi, and Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, until he died in 1998.
President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
in a telephone call with his wife on 2 July 1971 referred to Congressman Abernethy. He noted that he had been at a White House function the previous night and stated that he had been in the Congress for 29 years and that Congressman Abernethy had said to him "did you know that this is the first time in 29 years that I have ever had a bite to eat at the White House". Mr Nixon described him as a "nice man".
External links
- The Thomas Abernethy Collection (MUM00001) owned by the University of Mississippi