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{{Short description|American politician}}
{{other people}}
{{other people}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
|honorific-prefix =
|name = Charles Gibbons
|name = Charles Gibbons
|honorific-suffix =
|honorific-suffix =
|image =
|image = 1953 Charles Gibbons Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
|imagesize =
|smallimage =
|smallimage =
|caption =
|caption = Charles Gibbons, circa 1953
|order =
|order =
|office = Commissioner of Administration and Finance
|office = Commissioner of Administration and Finance
Line 30: Line 30:
|term_end4 = 1953
|term_end4 = 1953
|birth_date = July 21, 1901
|birth_date = July 21, 1901
|birth_place = [[Grider, Kentucky]]
|birth_place = [[Grider, Kentucky]], U.S.
|death_date = February 2, 1968 (aged 66)
|death_date = February 2, 1968 (aged 66)
|death_place = [[Damariscotta, Maine]]
|death_place = [[Damariscotta, Maine]], U.S.
|alma_mater = [[Barboursville Baptist College]]
|alma_mater = [[Barboursville Baptist College]]
|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|profession = Parel delivery
|profession = Parcel delivery
|spouse = Lillian Gibbons
|spouse = Lillian Gibbons
|residence = [[Stoneham, Massachusetts]]
|residence = [[Stoneham, Massachusetts]]
}}
}}


'''Charles Gibbons''' (born July 21, 1901 – February 2, 1968) was a [[U.S.]] [[politician]] who served as the [[Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives]] from 1953 to 1955 as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]. As of 2014, he is the last Republican to serve as Massachusetts Speaker of the House.
'''Charles Gibbons''' (born July 21, 1901 – February 2, 1968) was a [[United States|U.S.]] [[politician]] who served as the [[Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives]] from 1953 to 1955 as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]. As of {{CURRENTYEAR}}, he was the last Republican to serve as Speaker of the Massachusetts House.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Gibbons was born on July 21, 1901 in a log cabin on his family's farm in [[Grider, Kentucky]].<ref name=PublicOfficers>{{cite book |author= |coauthors= |title=1951-1952 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |year= |publisher= |quote= | url=http://www.archive.org/stream/publicofficersof19511952bost#page/170/mode/2up |isbn= }}</ref> His father was a [[Baptist]] minister. Gibbons attended [[Barboursville Baptist College]] with the intention on becoming a teacher. From 1919 to 1925 he served in the [[United States Navy]]. He later worked for the [[Postal Telegraph Company]]. In 1932 he started The Minute Man Messenger Service.<ref name=Obituary>{{cite news|title=Former Speaker Gibbons Dies|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=February 3, 1968}}</ref>
Gibbons was born on July 21, 1901, in a log cabin on his family's farm in [[Grider, Kentucky]].<ref name=PublicOfficers>{{cite book |title=1951-1952 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts | url=https://archive.org/stream/publicofficersof19511952bost#page/170/mode/2up }}</ref> His father was a [[Baptist]] minister. Gibbons attended [[Barboursville Baptist College]] with the intention on becoming a teacher. From 1919 to 1925 he served in the [[United States Navy]]. He later worked for the [[Postal Telegraph Company]]. In 1932 he started The Minute Man Messenger Service.<ref name=Obituary>{{cite news|title=Former Speaker Gibbons Dies|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=February 3, 1968}}</ref>


==Political career==
==Political career==
In 1940, Gibbons was an unsuccessful candidate for the [[Stoneham, Massachusetts]] Board of Selectmen. He ran again the following year and was elected easily. In 1942 he was elected to the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]]. Gibbons soon became a major figure in state Republican politics. In 1949 he was elected Republican floor leader and four years later was elected Speaker of the House. The Republicans lost control of the House in 1955 and Gibbons spent the next two years as Minority Leader.<ref name=Obituary /> In [[Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1956|1956]], Gibbons was the Republican nominee for [[Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts|Lieutenant Governor]], but lost to [[Robert F. Murphy (politician)|Robert F. Murphy]].<ref>http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=413431</ref> After the election he was elected Chairman of the [[Massachusetts Republican Party|Massachusetts Republican State Committee]]. In [[Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1958|1958]], following the death of the Republicans' only gubernatorial candidate, [[George Fingold]], Gibbons ran for the party's nomination as a write-in candidate.<ref>http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=71595</ref> He won the nomination, but lost the general election to incumbent [[Foster Furcolo]] 56%-43%.<ref>http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=174323</ref>
In 1940, Gibbons was an unsuccessful candidate for the [[Stoneham, Massachusetts]] Board of Selectmen. He ran again the following year and was elected easily. In 1942 he was elected to the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]]. Gibbons soon became a major figure in state Republican politics. In 1949 he was elected Republican floor leader and four years later was elected Speaker of the House. The Republicans lost control of the House in 1955 and Gibbons spent the next two years as Minority Leader.<ref name=Obituary /> In [[Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1956|1956]], Gibbons was the Republican nominee for [[Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts|lieutenant governor]], but lost to [[Robert F. Murphy (politician)|Robert F. Murphy]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=413431|title=Our Campaigns - MA Lt. Governor Race - Nov 06, 1956}}</ref> After the election he was elected Chairman of the [[Massachusetts Republican Party|Massachusetts Republican State Committee]]. In [[Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1958|1958]], following the death of the Republicans' only gubernatorial candidate, [[George Fingold]], Gibbons ran for the party's nomination as a write-in candidate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=71595|title=Our Campaigns - Candidate - Charles Gibbons}}</ref> He won the nomination, but lost the general election to incumbent [[Foster Furcolo]] 56%-43%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=174323|title=Our Campaigns - MA Governor Race - Nov 04, 1958}}</ref>


==Commissioner of Administration and Finance==
==Commissioner of Administration and Finance==
In 1961, Governor [[John A. Volpe]] appointed Gibbons to the position of Commissioner of Administration and Finance. After accepting the job he moved to [[Beacon Hill, Boston|Beacon Hill]]. In 1962 he was appointed Chairman of the State [[Government Center, Boston|Government Center]] Commission.<ref name=Obituary /> On May 8, 1964, Gibbons was indicted on 23 counts of accepting bribes during his tenure as Commissioner of Administration and Finance. He was one of twenty-six people indicted by a special grand jury investigating corruption.<ref>{{cite news |author= |coauthors= |title=Jury Names 4 Politicos in Briberies |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Pm0pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tegDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4099,3042663&dq |quote= |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=May 9, 1964 |accessdate=2010-07-12 }}</ref>
In 1961, Governor [[John A. Volpe]] appointed Gibbons to the position of Commissioner of Administration and Finance. After accepting the job he moved to [[Beacon Hill, Boston|Beacon Hill]]. In 1962 he was appointed Chairman of the State [[Government Center, Boston|Government Center]] Commission.<ref name=Obituary />


On May 8, 1964, Gibbons was indicted on 23 counts of accepting bribes during his tenure as Commissioner of Administration and Finance. He was one of twenty-six people indicted by a special grand jury investigating corruption.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jury Names 4 Politicos in Briberies |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Pm0pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tegDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4099,3042663&dq |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=May 9, 1964 |accessdate=2010-07-12 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | work = nytimes.com | date = May 9, 1964 | title = Massachusetts Speaker and 25 Indicted in Corruption Inquiry | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1964/05/09/archives/massachusetts-speaker-and-25-indicted-in-corruption-inquiry.html}}</ref>
⚫
==Later life and death==

Gibbons spent his later years in [[Wiscasset, Maine]].<ref name=Obituary /> After over three and a half years without a trial, the [[Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court]] ordered the [[Massachusetts Attorney General|Attorney General]] to start the trial by January 8, 1964.<ref>{{cite news|title=The delay in prosecution|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=January 11, 1968}}</ref> On January 8, Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Backman told Suffolk Superior Court Judge Felix Forte that the government was "unable to proceed" and Forte dismissed all of the charges against Gibbons.<ref>{{cite news|title=State Drops Charges vs. Gibbons|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=January 9, 1968}}</ref>
After over three and a half years without a trial, the [[Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court]] ordered the [[Massachusetts Attorney General|Attorney General]] to start the trial by January 8, 1964.<ref>{{cite news|title=The delay in prosecution|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=January 11, 1968}}</ref> On January 8, Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Backman told Suffolk Superior Court Judge Felix Forte that the government was "unable to proceed" and Forte dismissed all of the charges against Gibbons.<ref>{{cite news|title=State Drops Charges vs. Gibbons|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=January 9, 1968}}</ref>


Two days after the charges against him were dropped, Gibbons, who had been in ill health for some time, entered the hospital. He died on February 2, 1968.<ref name=Obituary />
Two days after the charges against him were dropped, Gibbons, who had been in ill health for some time, entered the hospital. He died on February 2, 1968.<ref name=Obituary />

⚫
==Later life and death==
Gibbons spent his later years in [[Wiscasset, Maine]].<ref name=Obituary />

==See also==
* Massachusetts legislature: [[1943–1944 Massachusetts legislature|1943–1944]], [[1945–1946 Massachusetts legislature|1945–1946]], [[1947–1948 Massachusetts legislature|1947–1948]], [[1949–1950 Massachusetts legislature|1949–1950]], [[1951–1952 Massachusetts legislature|1951–1952]], [[1953–1954 Massachusetts legislature|1953–1954]], [[1955–1956 Massachusetts legislature|1955–1956]]
* [[Massachusetts House of Representatives' 22nd Middlesex district]]


==References==
==References==
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{{succession box
{{succession box
| title = [[List of Speakers of the Massachusetts House of Representatives|Speaker]] of the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]]
| title = [[List of Speakers of the Massachusetts House of Representatives|Speaker]] of the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]]
| before = [[Tip O'Neill| Thomas P. O'Neill]]
| before = [[Tip O'Neill|Thomas P. O'Neill]]
| years = 1953 &mdash; 1955
| years = 1953–1955
| after = [[Michael F. Skerry]]}}
| after = [[Michael F. Skerry]]}}
{{S-ppo}}
{{S-ppo}}
{{succession box | before = [[Ralph H. Bonnell]] | title = Chairman of the [[Massachusetts Republican Party|Massachusetts Republican State Committee]] | years=1956-1958 | after = [[Daniel E. McLean]]| }}
{{succession box | before = [[Ralph H. Bonnell]] | title = Chairman of the [[Massachusetts Republican Party|Massachusetts Republican State Committee]] | years=1956–1958 | after = [[Daniel E. McLean]]| }}
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Sumner G. Whittier]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts]]|years=1956}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Elmer C. Nelson]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[Governor of Massachusetts]]|years=[[1958 Massachusetts gubernatorial election|1958]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John Volpe]]}}
{{S-end}}
{{S-end}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME =Gibbons, Charles
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American politician
| DATE OF BIRTH =July 21, 1901
| PLACE OF BIRTH =Grider, Kentucky
| DATE OF DEATH =February 2, 1968
| PLACE OF DEATH =Damariscotta, Maine
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gibbons, Charles}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gibbons, Charles}}
[[Category:1901 births]]
[[Category:1901 births]]
[[Category:1968 deaths]]
[[Category:1968 deaths]]
[[Category:Politicians from Boston, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Politicians from Boston]]
[[Category:People from Cumberland County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:People from Cumberland County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:People from Stoneham, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:People from Stoneham, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:People from Wiscasset, Maine]]
[[Category:People from Wiscasset, Maine]]
[[Category:Speakers of the Massachusetts House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Speakers of the Massachusetts House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Massachusetts Republicans]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives]]
[[Category:People from Beacon Hill, Boston]]
[[Category:Massachusetts Republican Party chairs]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Massachusetts General Court]]

Latest revision as of 00:01, 7 December 2024

For other people named Charles Gibbons, see Charles Gibbons (disambiguation).
Charles Gibbons
Charles Gibbons, circa 1953
Commissioner of Administration and Finance
In office
1961–1962
GovernorJohn A. Volpe
Preceded byCharles F. Mahoney
Succeeded byWilliam Waldron
Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office
1953–1955
Preceded byTip O'Neill
Succeeded byMichael F. Skerry
Minority Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office
1955–1957
Preceded byRobert F. Murphy
Succeeded byFrank S. Giles
In office
1949–1953
Preceded byTip O'Neill
Succeeded byRobert F. Murphy
Personal details
BornJuly 21, 1901
Grider, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedFebruary 2, 1968 (aged 66)
Damariscotta, Maine, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLillian Gibbons
ResidenceStoneham, Massachusetts
Alma materBarboursville Baptist College
ProfessionParcel delivery

Charles Gibbons (born July 21, 1901 – February 2, 1968) was a U.S. politician who served as the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1953 to 1955 as a Republican. As of 2025, he was the last Republican to serve as Speaker of the Massachusetts House.

Early life

[edit]

Gibbons was born on July 21, 1901, in a log cabin on his family's farm in Grider, Kentucky.[1] His father was a Baptist minister. Gibbons attended Barboursville Baptist College with the intention on becoming a teacher. From 1919 to 1925 he served in the United States Navy. He later worked for the Postal Telegraph Company. In 1932 he started The Minute Man Messenger Service.[2]

Political career

[edit]

In 1940, Gibbons was an unsuccessful candidate for the Stoneham, Massachusetts Board of Selectmen. He ran again the following year and was elected easily. In 1942 he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Gibbons soon became a major figure in state Republican politics. In 1949 he was elected Republican floor leader and four years later was elected Speaker of the House. The Republicans lost control of the House in 1955 and Gibbons spent the next two years as Minority Leader.[2] In 1956, Gibbons was the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, but lost to Robert F. Murphy.[3] After the election he was elected Chairman of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee. In 1958, following the death of the Republicans' only gubernatorial candidate, George Fingold, Gibbons ran for the party's nomination as a write-in candidate.[4] He won the nomination, but lost the general election to incumbent Foster Furcolo 56%-43%.[5]

Commissioner of Administration and Finance

[edit]

In 1961, Governor John A. Volpe appointed Gibbons to the position of Commissioner of Administration and Finance. After accepting the job he moved to Beacon Hill. In 1962 he was appointed Chairman of the State Government Center Commission.[2]

On May 8, 1964, Gibbons was indicted on 23 counts of accepting bribes during his tenure as Commissioner of Administration and Finance. He was one of twenty-six people indicted by a special grand jury investigating corruption.[6][7]

After over three and a half years without a trial, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ordered the Attorney General to start the trial by January 8, 1964.[8] On January 8, Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Backman told Suffolk Superior Court Judge Felix Forte that the government was "unable to proceed" and Forte dismissed all of the charges against Gibbons.[9]

Two days after the charges against him were dropped, Gibbons, who had been in ill health for some time, entered the hospital. He died on February 2, 1968.[2]

Later life and death

[edit]

Gibbons spent his later years in Wiscasset, Maine.[2]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 1951-1952 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Former Speaker Gibbons Dies". The Boston Globe. February 3, 1968.
  3. ^ "Our Campaigns - MA Lt. Governor Race - Nov 06, 1956".
  4. ^ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Charles Gibbons".
  5. ^ "Our Campaigns - MA Governor Race - Nov 04, 1958".
  6. ^ "Jury Names 4 Politicos in Briberies". The Spokesman-Review. May 9, 1964. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
  7. ^ "Massachusetts Speaker and 25 Indicted in Corruption Inquiry". nytimes.com. May 9, 1964.
  8. ^ "The delay in prosecution". The Boston Globe. January 11, 1968.
  9. ^ "State Drops Charges vs. Gibbons". The Boston Globe. January 9, 1968.
Massachusetts House of Representatives
Preceded by Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
1953–1955 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Chairman of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee
1956–1958 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
1956 		Succeeded by
Republican nominee for Governor of Massachusetts
1958 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Charles_Gibbons&oldid=1261610396"