FRED M VINSON – “one of the foremost…”
1890 – 1953
The time seems short and somewhat long ago. A man was born in the jailer’s quarters in the little town of Louisa on the banks of the Big Sandy River in Kentucky. He rose to the highest government positions in all three branches of our national government. He is buried in a humble grave on a hill over looking his birthplace. THIS DOES NOT END THE STORY. His accomplishments live on in American lives today!
Fred M. Vinson, was born January 22, 1890. He spent his early youth on the courthouse square in Louisa. The little boy would climb up in the courthouse windows to listen to the trials. Sometimes the judges would invite him to come in and sit on the bench with them. Who could know that ultimately this boy would sit on our nation’s highest judicial bench as the13th Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1946 to 1953. He is the only Chief Justice from Kentucky. Two of Vinson’s landmark decisions led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of the 1960’s—changing the future of all black-Americans forever.
Vinson first served in the legislative branch in the House of Representatives 1924-1936. He rose to the powerful Ways and Means Committee. He was recognized as the brilliant tax and fiscal expert of Congress. Working closely with President Roosevelt and his committee, Vinson designed the complicated features and pertinent statistics necessary for the sweeping-in-impact Social Security Act passed in 1935. Serving millions of Americans today, this Act is his greatest legislative memorial.
He served in many positions in the Executive Branch, the highest as Secretary of the Treasury in President Truman’s cabinet. In this position, Vinson’s broad international vision firmly fixed America’s primacy in international finance. As co-chairman of the U.S delegation to the first International Monetary Conference, he powerfully guided the establishment of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, both of which still serve international needs today. More important his influence created the first “world reserve currency” – the U.S dollar which has been used for all world trade for nearly 75 years. As one Chinese delegate said about Vinson, his “work is of historic importance to the whole world.”
Fred M. Vinson, a son of the Big Sandy Valley, was fiercely proud of his heritage. He claimed it was “God-fearing, law-abiding pioneers of strong sturdy stock with minds clear and visions unimpaired who opened the way for future generations to take their proper places in the sun”
He led the way and showed we can reach our “places in the sun.”
The Fred M Vinson Museum, 315 E. Main St. Louisa will hold an Open House in honor of the anniversary of Vinson’s birthday on Tuesday, January 22 from 10 – 2. Refreshments will be served.
Constance Queen
Fred M. Vinson Museum
and Welcome Center
Ph: 606-638-0078
