1953–54 Volume 78 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

Chief Justice Vinson
Enters Chapter Grand
BELOVED PHI JURIST IS VICTIM
OF HEART ATTACK SEPTEMBER 8
IN the untimely death' of Chief Justice
Fred M. Vinson, Centre 09, on September
8. the nation lost a public servant of
uncommon versatility and a man widely
respected and warmly regarded by membei-s
of both major parties. The Fraternity lost
to the Chapter Grand a brother whose devotion
to and love for * A © remained
steadfast throughout his 44 years of membiership.
Thirteenth Chief Justice of the United
States, Brother Vinson died of a heart attack
at the age of 63. His death terminated a
service of more than thirty years in public
life, during which time he enjoyed noteworthy
careers in each of the three branches
of the Federal Government—legislative,
executive, and judicial. In twelve years in the
House of Representatives he won wide renown
as a tax and fiscal expert. Then, in
World War II, he sejrved in top administrative
posts, as Economic Stabilizer,
Federal Loan Administrator, Assistant
President, and Secretary of the Treasury.
Finally, in 1946, he was appointed by President
Truman as Chief Justice of the United
States.
In all three fields he distinguished himself
by the exercise of his most characteristic
quality, his exceptional ability as a negotiator,
a trouble-shooter, a reconciler of conflicting
views, a man who could reduce warring
factions to at least outward harmony
and so get things done.
In the Fraternity Brother Vinson, great
and good friend of Pres. George S. Ward,
was actively interested in affairs of the
Washington Alumni Club and was a regular
attendant at the Club's Founders Day
dinners. He attended * A 0's Centennial
Convention in Oxford in 1948 and was one
of the principal speakers at the Convention
banquet. He also was an enthusiastic attendant
at the Centennial of his own chapter—Kentucky
Alpha-Delta at Centre College—in
June of 1950. Again, he was the
[7>]
FRED M. VINSON, Centre '09
1890-1953
main speaker at the banquet which
climaxed this observation. In his travels
throughout the country Brother Vinson, on
several occasions, gave Phi chapters a neverto-be-forgotten
thrill when he stopped in
unannounced at the chapter house for a
chat.
# * *
Justice Vinson was born January 22, 1890.
His father, James Vinson, was the county
jailor, and the birth took place in the jailkeeper's
apartment.
Christened Frederick Moore Vinson, the
Chief Justice used Fred M. Vinson even on
official papers.
The youth early decided to be a lawyer.
His father died when he was ten years old,
and the mother kept a boarding house.
The future Chief Justice paid some of
his expenses at Kentucky Normal College,
Louisa, by tutoring in mathematics and
working in the college library.