Eugene Siler, a life revisited (part 3)

After a failed bid for the governor’s office in 1951, Williamsburg’s own Eugene Siler, Sr. decided to make run for a congressional seat in 1954. It was a decision that would greatly affect not only the rest of his life, but the lives of generations of Whitley Countians.

“Judge Eugene Siler, Williamsburg, announced this week that he will be a candidate for the Republican nomination for congressman in the Eighth District,” read a report in the May 27, 1954 edition of the Whitley Republican. “A Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge from 1946 to 1949, Siler was the unsuccessful candidate for governor in 1951. He is now in his second term as moderator of the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky and is counsel for the Kentucky Free Public Schools Committee, an organization dedicated to separation of church and state in Kentucky public schools.”

Siler would quickly emerge as a favorite to win in the Eighth District, as evidenced by a large rally that was organized in Barbourville.

“Republican leaders and prominent churchmen from four counties will converge on Barbourville, where they will participate in a ‘Send Siler to Congress’ rally,” read a report appearing in the July 8, 1954 edition of the Republican. “Outstanding Republican leaders from Knox, Whitley, Bell and Laurel counties are slated to make brief addresses on behalf of Judge Siler’s candidacy for Eighth District Representative in Congress to succeed James S. Golden of Pineville, who does not seek re-election.”

Voters across 18 different counties would end up going to the polls and selecting Siler as the Republican nominee, and he would go on later that year to defeat Democrat Mitchell S. Fannin, of McCreary County, to win the open seat in the United State Congress.

In the January 6, 1955 edition of the Whitley Republican, a story ran offering readers details of Siler’s arrival to the nation’s capital.

“When the 84th Congress convened in Washington yesterday, Judge Eugene E. Siler took the oath of office as Representative of the Eighth District of Kentucky,” the story said. “With the exception of the late Charles Finley, who served a part-term in the House, a Williamsburg man represents the district for the first time in 70 years. He is the third in the history of the county.”

In honor of the momentous occasion, Siler received a special gift from the congregation of First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, which was his home church.

“In the Sunday morning service at the First Baptist Church, of which Rep. Siler has long been an active member, he was presented a New Testament by the pastor, the Rev. Clyde Freed, Jr.,” read the same story from the January 6 edition of the Republican. “The inscription read, ‘This testament is presented to Congressman Eugene Siler by the membership of the First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, Kentucky, with the fervent wish and prayer that the Lord will bless your labors as a Congressman, a great Christian, and a Baptist layman.’”

“The honoree became known as ‘the Bible-toting and flag-waving candidate’ during his campaigns,” the story also noted. “He carries a Testament in his pocket at all times and uses it frequently when talking to people.”

As we will see in the next planned installment of this ongoing series of columns, it did not take Siler long to make his mark after landing in Washington D.C. Quickly establishing himself as an outspoken representative not afraid to argue his case, he proved that he was willing to go to bat for the people of his district.

Reminder – After his political career came to an end, Eugene Siler continued to serve the people of Whitley County, using a newspaper column that he titled “Head or Tales” to keep the local citizenry informed of various important topics. He would also often discuss historical matters, offer thoughts on recent events, and more.

To learn how you can read many of these Head or Tales columns for yourself, contact the Whitley County Historical and Genealogical Society at (606) 549-7089.