Carl D. Perkins

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The article is about Carl D. Perkins the American politician. For his son, also an American politician, see Carl C. Perkins. For the musician see Carl Perkins.

Carl Dewey Perkins (October 15, 1912 - August 3, 1984), a Democrat, was a politician and member of the United States House of Representatives from the state of Kentucky.

1 Early Years
2 Run for Office
3 Death
4 Legacy

[edit] Early Years

Perkins was born in Hindman, Kentucky. He attended the Knott County, Kentucky grade schools, Hindman High School, Caney Junior College (now Alice Lloyd College), Lees Junior College and graduated from Jefferson School of Law (now the University of Louisville Law School) in 1935.

Perkins was admitted to the bar in 1935 and commenced the practice of law in Hindman. In 1939 Perkins served an unexpired term as Commonwealth's Attorney for the thirty-first judicial circuit. He was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1940 and was then elected Knott County Attorney in 1941 and reelected in 1945. Perkins resigned the county attorney's office on January 1, 1948 to become counsel for the Kentucky Department of Highways.

During World War II Perkins enlisted in the United States Army and saw service in Europe.

[edit] Run for Office

In 1948 Perkins ran against the incumbent Congressman from Kentucky's 7th District, Wendell H. Meade. Perkins unseated Meade and was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-first and to the seventeen succeeding Congresses and served from January 3, 1949, until his death. Perkins was the chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor (Ninetieth through Ninety-eighth Congresses, 1967-1984). While a part of the committee, his work helped produce the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 and Head Start.

[edit] Death

Perkins was a resident of Hindman, Kentucky until his death on August 3, 1984 in Lexington, Kentucky. He is buried in the Perkins Cemetery at Leburn, Kentucky which is just outside of Hindman.

Many notable legislators from across the country such as Senator Ted Kennedy, Speaker of the House Tip O'Neal, and House Majority Leader Him Wright and Congrassman Thatcher amoung others came to his funeral which was held in Hindman Kentucky at Knott County Central High School's home gym the Morton Combs Athletic Complex. The capacity of the gym is 5,000 and it reached capacity that day. Local Pastors such as Rev. J.S. Bell and Rev. Archie Everage deliverd the message to the capacity crowd.

Perkins was succeeded in office by his son Carl C. Perkins.

[edit] Legacy

Perkins's legacy of support to education is shown by the federal student loan called the Perkins Loan, named for him, as is the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act, which provides federal money for vocational schooling.Both the Carl D. Perkins Bridge crossing the Ohio River and the Carl D. Perkins Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Ashland, Kentucky are named after him.

Carl D. Perkins' grave site is actually in Leburn, Kentucky in a private cemetery upon a hill near his old house. Verna J. Perkins sold the house and the land, and his grave site is now a memorial. Verna has since retired to a home for the elderly in Lexington.

Preceded by Wendell H. Meade	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives for the 7th District of Kentucky 1949 – 1984	Succeeded by Carl C. Perkins