Austin Peay

Austin Peay

Austin Peay (born June 1, 1876 in Hopkinsville , Christian County , Kentucky , † October 2, 1927 in Davidson County , Tennessee ) was an American politician ( Democratic Party ) and the 39th  governor of the state of Tennessee.

Early years and political advancement

The young Austin Peay attended Washington and Lee University and then studied law at Center College . After his admission to the bar, he practiced first in Hopkinsville and later in Clarksville, Tennessee. Between 1901 and 1905 he was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives ; In 1908 he was campaign manager for Malcolm R. Patterson . As early as 1918, he first applied for the office of governor of Tennessee, but his party opted for Albert H. Roberts . Four years later, he won both the Democratic nomination and the victory over incumbent Alfred A. Taylor .

Governor of Tennessee

During his tenure as governor (1923–1927) he achieved more than most other governors of the time. In 1923 the administration was fundamentally reformed. Eight ministries were created. At the same time the position of the governor in relation to the administration was strengthened. Unnecessary bureaucracy was cut and the governor had better control over the state budget. He enacted a tax reform and introduced a mineral oil and tobacco tax. At the same time the property tax was lowered.

The road construction was financed from the income from the new taxes. Over half of the budget was spent on it. At the beginning of his tenure, there were just 244 miles of paved roads; when he died, that number had risen to over 4,000 miles. These included continuous east-west and north-south connections. There were also 17 bridge projects that were completed during his tenure.

The education system also underwent a fundamental reform. Uniform standards for teachers were introduced. Funding for the primary schools was ensured to the extent that in most cases an eight-month school year could be offered. Funding for the University of Tennessee was also increased. Particular attention was paid to the rural area, where new schools were being built. In general, it was a concern of the governor to promote rural areas and improve living conditions there.

Despite all of these sometimes expensive reforms, he succeeded in turning an initial national debt of around $ 3 million into a surplus of $ 1.2 million. In doing so, however, the general economic situation came to his aid. The boom of the 1920s was in full swing. He also introduced reforms in the field of health care. More money was invested in expanding the medical infrastructure. It's also worth noting that he founded the country's first nature reserve at Reelfoot Lake . The Great Smoky National Park was also created during his tenure. His name is also associated with the passing of a law that banned the theory of evolution in schools in the country. Most of his reforms were controversial in Tennessee and he often had to assert himself against opposition. Nevertheless, he managed to be re-elected in 1924 and 1926.

In his final years he came into conflict with the powerful ex-Mayor of Memphis, Edward Crump . This influential politician saw his influence and economic interests in Tennessee threatened by the governor's reforms and worked against him. The Democratic Party then split into two factions. One supported the governor and the other supported Crump. Austin Peay could not finish his third term. He died on October 2, 1927 as the first and so far only governor of Tennessee in office.

He was married to Marie Sallie Hurst. The couple had two children.

literature

• Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978 . Volume 4, Meckler Books, Westport, CT 1978. 4 volumes
• The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. 33. James T. White & Company, New York.

Web links

• Austin Peay in the National Governors Association (English)
• The governors of Tennessee (English)
• Austin Peay in the database of Find a Grave (English)