07 LC 96
2740
House
Resolution 817
By:
Representative Sims of the
169th
A
RESOLUTION
Honoring
and remembering the life of John Strickland Gibson; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
John Strickland Gibson, a celebrated attorney and United States Congressman, was
one of the most distinguished community servants in the history of Georgia;
and
WHEREAS,
he was born in Charlton County on January 3, 1893, to William Owen Gibson and
Julia Ann Vickery Gibson, and he was married to Bessie Thomas in April, 1917;
and
WHEREAS,
after moving to Douglas and graduating from Georgia State Normal College, he
began his legal career at the office of George Mingledorff while he finished a
correspondence course from LaSalle Extension University and prepared for the bar
exam; and
WHEREAS,
he was an aggressive courtroom lawyer who specialized in cross-examination and
was known for his innate ability to sense the mood of the jury and for his
colorful and frequently caustic methods of argument; and
WHEREAS,
he became one of Georgia's most feared and admired attorneys, and his excellence
as a trial lawyer led to his election in 1934 as solicitor general, a position
equivalent to today's district attorney; and
WHEREAS,
Gibson's popularity continued to grow, and he was elected as a Democrat to the
United States Congress after the congressman from Georgia's Eighth District, W.
Ben Gibbs, passed away in 1940; and
WHEREAS,
Congressman Gibson served the public tirelessly through the difficult years of
World War II, and he is credited with playing a decisive role in the passing of
the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, better known as the G.I. Bill;
and
WHEREAS,
during the week of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, a House and Senate conference
committee was deadlocked on the bill which would provide housing, education, and
job benefits to returning veterans; and
WHEREAS,
Congressman Gibson received word that the bill was in jeopardy while he was at
home in Douglasville, Georgia, recovering from an illness, and in a spectacular
overnight journey, he rushed to Washington to remind his peers that American
soldiers needed their full support.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body join in remembering the life John Strickland Gibson and honoring his
tireless dedication to serving his community, state, and country.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Georgia
Department of the American Legion.