Thomas Erby Kilby Sr. (July 9, 1865 – October 22, 1943) was an American

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

. He was the eighth lieutenant governor of Alabama and the 36th governor of

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

Biography

Kilby was born in

Lebanon, Tennessee Lebanon is the county seat of Wilson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 38,431 at the 2020 census. Lebanon is located in Middle Tennessee, approximately east of downtown Nashville. Lebanon is part of the Nashville Metropolit ...

, and was educated in public schools. In 1887, he was an agent for the Georgia-Pacific Railroad in

Anniston, Alabama Anniston is the county seat of Calhoun County in Alabama and is one of two urban centers/principal cities of and included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city was 23,106. Acco ...

. He became a successful businessman in the industrial and banking business.

Career

He was a Democratic politician and served as mayor of

from 1905 to 1909. He served as Alabama State Senator from 1911 to 1915. Kilby served as Lieutenant Governor of Alabama from 1915 to 1919, and as Governor of Alabama from 1919 to 1923 In September 1919 two Black men Miles Phifer and Robert Crosky were arrested over allegations they assaulted two white women in separate incidents in

Montgomery, Alabama Montgomery is the capital city of the U.S. state of Alabama and the county seat of Montgomery County. Named for the Irish soldier Richard Montgomery, it stands beside the Alabama River, on the coastal Plain of the Gulf of Mexico. In the 202 ...

. A mob quickly formed and a concerned citizen notified Governor Thomas Kilby that there might be a lynching. Kilby ordered the two to be transferred to the relative safety of prison in

Wetumpka, Alabama Wetumpka () is a city in and the county seat of Elmore County, Alabama, Elmore County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 7,220. In the early 21st century Elmore County became one of the f ...

but they were intercepted and lynched by a White Mob on September 29, 1919. In 1920, Kilby arbitrated the settlement of the lengthy and violent 1920 Alabama coal strike, ruling clearly against the demands of the

United Mine Workers of America The United Mine Workers of America (UMW or UMWA) is a North American Labor history of the United States, labor union best known for representing coal miners. Today, the Union also represents health care workers, truck drivers, manufacturing worke ...

. The Child Welfare Department was created in 1919 during Kilby's governorship.

Family life

Kilby married Mary Elizabeth Clark on June 5, 1894. They had three children. Kilby House, their home in

, was built for Kilby while he was Lieutenant Governor. It is listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

Death and legacy

Kilby died on October 22, 1943, in

at the age of 78. He is buried at Highland Cemetery in Anniston. In 1921, he was depicted on the Alabama Centennial half dollar, making him the first person ever to appear on a US coin while still alive. The old Kilby Prison and the current Kilby Correctional Facility are both named for Thomas Kilby.

References

External links