Flem D. Sampson

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Flem Davis Sampson (January 23, 1875 - May 25, 1967) was Governor of Kentucky from 1927 through 1931.

[edit] Early life

Flem Sampson was born on January 23, 1875 near London, Kentucky in Laurel County, the ninth of ten children born to Joseph and Emoline (Kellum)^[a] Sampson. He was educated in the county's public schools and the John T. Hays school, and by age sixteen, was teaching at Indian Creek School. He attended Union College in Barbourville, and taught at the school. He then enrolled at Valparaiso University, where earned both an A.B. and an LL.B. in 1894.^[1]

Sampson established his legal practice in Barbourville, Kentucky, where he became the city attorney. Caleb Powers, one of the men accused of complicity to the assassination of Governor William Goebel, was a partner in Sampson's firm. His connection to Powers played well in Powers' native eastern Kentucky. Later, Sampson served as president of Barbourville's First National Bank.^[2]

On September 20, 1897,^[b] Sampson married Susie Steele; the couple had three daughters.^[1]

[edit] Political career

Sampson's political career began in 1905 when he was elected county judge of Knox County, Kentucky, a position he held for four years. In 1911, he was appointed to the bench of the 34th Judicial District, serving until 1916. In 1916, he was elected to the Kentucky Court of Appeals. He served until 1924, and presided as chief justice from 1923 to 1924.^[3]

Sampson and Congressman John M. Robsion organized a formidable Republican faction in the eastern part of Kentucky and the party nominated Sampson for governor in 1927. The Democratic party was badly divided over issues of parimutuel betting on horse races and sales of alcohol. The nomination of former governor J.C.W. Beckham – who opposed gambling and maintained a "dry" position on the liquor question – many Democrats hurried to the support of Sampson.^[4]

The campaign was particularly contentious. Sampson trumpeted his own moral purity, claiming he "never smoked, chewed, drank, gambled – not even bet on an election." He promised, however, to protect horse racing in the Commonwealth. In response, Sampson's opponents dubbed him "Flem-Flam." Sampson won the election by a majority of over 32,000 votes.^[5]

Sampson's tenure saw the creation of the Kentucky Progress Commission (the forerunner of the State Department of Commerce) in 1928.^[6] With the onset of the Great Depression, he worked to control government costs, but did endorse highway progression. In 1931, he had to call in the National Guard to quell the Battle of Evarts, a labor riot in Harlan County.^[3]

The Democratic General Assembly generally opposed Sampson's proposals. They sanctioned his free textbook program, but did not fund it. Sampson was later indicted for accepting gifts from the textbook companies. The indictment was eventually dismissed.^[4]

Though he oversaw some improvements to the state park system, Sampson declined a proposal by the Du Pont family to purchase Cumberland Falls and turn it into a state park. Instead, Sampson favored using the falls to generate hydroelectric power. The General Assembly rejected Sampson's plan, and accepted the Du Ponts' offer over the governor's veto.^[4]

[edit] Later life

Following his term as governor, Sampson returned to his legal practice in Barbourville. In 1957, he was appointed to the Citizens' Advisory Highway Committee, and was awarded the Governor's Medallion for distinguished public service in 1959.^[6] At the age of ninety-one, he served on the State Constitutional Revision Committee.^[3] He died in Pewee Valley, Kentucky on May 25, 1967, and was buried at the Barbourville Cemetery.^[4]

[edit] References

• Harrison, Lowell H. (1992). "Sampson, Flem D.", in Kleber, John E.: The Kentucky Encyclopedia, Associate editors: Thomas D. Clark, Lowell H. Harrison, and James C. Klotter, Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0813117720. 
• Kentucky Governor Flem Davis Sampson. National Governors Association. Retrieved on 2007-09-05.
• Powell, Robert A. (1976). Kentucky Governors. Danville, Kentucky: Bluegrass Printing Company. OCLC 2690774. 
• Sexton, Robert F. (2004). "Flem D. Sampson", in Lowell Hayes Harrison: Kentucky's Governors. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0813123267. 

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] See also

• History of Kentucky

v • d • e Governors of Kentucky Shelby • Garrard • Greenup • Scott • Shelby • Madison • Slaughter • Adair • Desha • Metcalfe • J. Breathitt • J. Morehead • Clark • Wickliffe • Letcher • Owsley • Crittenden • Helm • Powell • C. Morehead • Magoffin • Robinson • Bramlette • Helm • Stevenson • Leslie • McCreary • Blackburn • Knott • Buckner • Brown • Bradley • Taylor • Goebel • Beckham • Willson • McCreary • Stanley • Black • Morrow • Fields • Sampson • Laffoon • Chandler • Johnson • Willis • Clements • Wetherby • Chandler • Combs • E. Breathitt • Nunn • Ford • Carroll • Brown Jr. • Collins • Wilkinson • Jones • Patton • Fletcher • Beshear Kentucky also had two Confederate Governors: George W. Johnson and Richard Hawes.