Ernest W. Gibson Jr. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont | |
| In office August 25, 1966 – November 4, 1969 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Bernard Joseph Leddy |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont | |
| In office October 18, 1949 – November 4, 1969 | |
| Appointed by | Harry S. Truman |
| Preceded by | James Patrick Leamy |
| Succeeded by | James L. Oakes |
| 67th Governor of Vermont | |
| In office January 9, 1947 – January 16, 1950 | |
| Lieutenant | Lee E. Emerson Harold J. Arthur |
| Preceded by | Mortimer R. Proctor |
| Succeeded by | Harold J. Arthur |
| United States Senator from Vermont | |
| In office June 24, 1940 – January 3, 1941 | |
| Appointed by | George Aiken |
| Preceded by | Ernest Willard Gibson |
| Succeeded by | George Aiken |
| Secretary of the Vermont Senate | |
| In office February 2, 1933 – January 7, 1941 | |
| Preceded by | Murdock A. Campbell |
| Succeeded by | Willsie E. Brisbin |
| State's Attorney of Windham County, Vermont | |
| In office February 1, 1929 – January 1, 1933 | |
| Preceded by | Roger A. Brackett |
| Succeeded by | Ralph E. Edwards |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ernest William Gibson Jr. March 6, 1901 Brattleboro, Vermont, U.S. |
| Died | November 4, 1969 (aged 68) Brattleboro, Vermont, U.S. |
| Resting place | Morningside Cemetery Brattleboro, Vermont, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Dorothy P. Switzer (m. 1926–1958, her death) Ann H. Haag (m. 1961–1969, his death) |
| Children | 4, including Ernest III |
| Parent(s) | Ernest W. Gibson Grace Fullerton (Hadley) Gibson |
| Education | Norwich University (A.B.) George Washington University Law School |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States ArmyUnited States Army Reserve Vermont National Guard |
| Years of service | 1922–1945 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Unit | 43rd Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | |
Ernest William Gibson Jr. (March 6, 1901 – November 4, 1969) was an American attorney, politician, and judge. He served briefly as an appointed United States Senator, as the 67th governor of Vermont, and as a federal judge.
Born in Brattleboro, and the son of a prominent Vermont political figure who served in the United States Senate, Gibson graduated from Norwich University in 1923, attended The George Washington University Law School, and attained admission to the bar in 1926. A Republican, he served in several elected and appointed positions in state government. When his father died while serving in the Senate, Gibson was appointed to temporarily fill the vacancy, and he served from June 1940 to January 1941.
A veteran of the United States Army Reserve and Vermont National Guard, during World War II, Gibson served in the South Pacific and on the staff of the United States Department of War, and received several decorations for heroism. In 1946, he ran for Governor of Vermont and defeated the incumbent in the Republican primary, the only time this has ever occurred in Vermont. He went on to win the general election, and won reelection in 1948.
Gibson served as governor until accepting appointment as judge of Vermont's U.S. District Court; he remained on the bench until his 1969 death in Brattleboro. He was buried at Morningside Cemetery in Brattleboro.