Marvin Griffin

Samuel Marvin Griffin, Sr.
72nd Governor of Georgia
In office January 11, 1955 – January 13, 1959
Lieutenant	Ernest Vandiver
Preceded by	Herman Talmadge
Succeeded by	Ernest Vandiver
2nd Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
In office November 17, 1948 – January 11, 1955
Governor	Herman Talmadge
Preceded by	Melvin E. Thompson
Succeeded by	Ernest Vandiver
Personal details
Born	September 4, 1907(1907-09-04) Bainbridge, Georgia, United States
Died	June 13, 1982(1982-06-13) (aged 74) Georgia, United States
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Mary Elizabeth "Lib" Smith Laura Jane Gibson "Lollie"
Children	Patricia Ann Samuel Marvin, Jr.
Alma mater	The Citadel
Military service
Service/branch	United States Army
Battles/wars	World War II

Samuel Marvin Griffin, Sr. (September 4, 1907 – June 13, 1982) was a politician from the US state of Georgia. He served as the 72nd Governor of Georgia from 1955 to 1959.

Early life

Griffin was born in Bainbridge, Georgia and graduated from The Citadel in 1929. He taught in Virginia for a short time before moving back to Bainbridge.^[1]

Political career

Georgia assembly and cabinet

In 1934, Griffin, a life-long Democrat, was elected to the Georgia General Assembly. Two years later, he failed in an attempt to be elected to the House of Representatives. After that, he served in the administration of Governor Eurith D. Rivers, rising to the post of executive secretary.

Military service

When America entered World War II, Griffin enlisted in the army, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was appointed adjutant general of the Georgia National Guard in 1944.

Georgia lieutenant governor

Griffin became the first elected Lieutenant Governor of Georgia to serve after he won a special election in 1948 (the first person elected lieutenant governor was Melvin E. Thompson, who never took the office but instead claimed the office of Governor after the death of Governor-elect Eugene Talmadge). Griffin was elected to a full term in 1950.

Georgia governor

1954 election

Griffin was seen as the successor to Governor Herman Talmadge and he won the governorship in 1954. As Governor, Griffin was a staunch segregationist. He spoke out against the Brown v. Board of Education decision and pledged to keep Georgia's schools segregated "come hell or high water."^[2]

Springhill mining disaster

In 1958, Griffin, who was a segregationalist and accused of being racist, took advantage of the intense media coverage surrounding the Springhill mining disaster in Springhill, Nova Scotia, Canada to promote tourism to his state by offering a group of survivors free vacations to Jekyll Island. However, to the segregationist governor's chagrin, one of the rescued miners was black, resulting in a public relations nightmare.^[3]

1956 Sugar Bowl

Much controversy preceded the 1956 Sugar Bowl, where the Pitt Panthers, including African-American player Bobby Grier, were scheduled to meet the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. There was controversy over whether Grier should be allowed to play, and whether Georgia Tech should even play at all due to Governor Griffin's opposition to integration.^[4] In anticipation of Bobby Grier's presence, in December 1955, Griffin publicly sent a telegram to his state's Board Of Regents. Griffin implored teams from Georgia not to engage in racially integrated events which had blacks either as participants or as spectators.

A large contingent from the New Orleans community, as well as many related to Georgia Tech, openly fought to bar either Grier, Pitt or the Yellow Jacket team from the game. However, students and football players from the Atlanta-based school, civil rights leaders, as well as a large number of the Pitt community, succeeded in ensuring that the game took place.

Corruption charges

Griffin's term was marred by charges of corruption. According to Atlanta historian Frederick Allen, Griffin was "a man of prodigious charm and wit and also one of the most corrupt public officials ever to hold office in Georgia."^{[citation needed]} Several administration members were found guilty of crimes and Griffin was investigated by a grand jury in 1960.

1962 election

In 1962, Griffin ran for Governor, losing to Carl E. Sanders. Griffin retired from politics after that campaign, although he was a temporary candidate for Vice President on the American Independent Party ticket in 1968. Griffin was replaced by Curtis LeMay although his name stayed on the ballot in many states.

Post-gubernatorial career

Griffin returned to Bainbridge, GA and went into the real estate business. One of his proudest accomplishments was the creation of Bainbridge College in 1970 (classes began in 1973), of which he was a leading advocate and member of the Board of Directors. He also oversaw and directed the Decatur County Sesquicentennial in 1973.

Death

Griffin died in 1982 from lung cancer.

Further reading

^[5]

• Scott E. Buchanan. "Some of the People Who Ate My Barbecue Didn't Vote for Me": The Life of Georgia Governor Marvin Griffin (Vanderbilt University Press; 2011) 286 pages

Notes

1. ^ Buchanan, Scott E. (2011). Some of the People Who Ate My Barbecue Didn't Vote for Me: The Life of Georgia Governor Marvin Griffin. Vanderbilt University Press. ISBN 978-0826517593. 
2. ^ The Strategists. Time magazine, July 12, 1954. Quote:Lieut. Governor S. Marvin Griffin of Atlanta: let city and county school boards assign each student to a school. Griffin also suggested a residency requirement to keep "foreign agitators" out of the state. "Social equality," said he, "is impossible. The schools are not going to be mixed come hell or high water."
3. ^ Fay Greene, Melissa (2004). Last Man Out: The Story of the Springhill Mine Disaster. Harvest Books. ISBN 015602957X. 
4. ^ Mulé, Marty – A Time For Change: Bobby Grier And The 1956 Sugar Bowl. Black Athlete Sports Network, December 28, 2005
5. ^ Allen, Frederick (1996). Atlanta Rising. Marietta, GA: Longstreet Press. pp. 59–61. ISBN 1563522969. 

External links

• Marvin Griffin in the New Georgia Encyclopedia
• New book on Griffin

Political offices
Preceded by Melvin E. Thompson	Lieutenant Governor of Georgia November 17, 1948 – January 11, 1955	Succeeded by Ernest Vandiver, Jr.
Preceded by Herman Talmadge	Governor of Georgia January 11, 1955 – January 13, 1959

Persondata
Name	Griffin, Marvin
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	September 4, 1907
Place of birth	Bainbridge, Georgia, United States
Date of death	June 13, 1982
Place of death	Georgia, United States