James Harvey Cummings (November 8, 1890 – November 1, 1979) was a Tennessee farmer, attorney and political figure.[1]

James H. Cummings
74th Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives
In office
January 3, 1967 – January 7, 1969
Preceded byDick Barry
Succeeded byBill Jenkins
31st Secretary of State of Tennessee
In office
1949–1953
GovernorGordon Browning
Preceded byJoe C. Carr
Succeeded byGeorge Edward Friar
Additional positions
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
In office
January 5, 1959 – January 2, 1973
Preceded byRaymond C. Duke
Succeeded byFrank Buck
ConstituencyCannon County (1959–63)
14th district (1963–65)
18th district (1965–73)
In office
January 3, 1955 – January 7, 1957
Preceded byHoyt Bryson
Succeeded byRaymond C. Duke
ConstituencyCannon County
In office
January 2, 1939 – January 6, 1947
Preceded byL. E. Willard
Succeeded byHoyt Bryson
ConstituencyCannon County
In office
January 5, 1931 – January 4, 1937
Preceded byO. E. Simpson
Succeeded byL. E. Willard
ConstituencyCannon County
Member of the Tennessee Senate
from the 12th district
In office
January 7, 1957 – January 5, 1959
Preceded byMcAllen Foutch
Succeeded byBarton Dement
In office
January 6, 1947 – January 3, 1949
Preceded byJames E. Evins
Succeeded byShelton H. Edwards
In office
January 4, 1937 – January 2, 1939
Preceded byJames E. Evins
Succeeded byKnox T. Hutchinson
In office
January 7, 1929 – January 5, 1931
Preceded byAlbert D. McKnight
Succeeded byCharles C. Jackson
Personal details
Born
James Harvey Cummings

(1890-11-08)November 8, 1890
Cannon, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedNovember 1, 1979(1979-11-01) (aged 88)
Tennessee, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseHesta McBroom
RelationsCarolyn C. Perrucci (niece)
EducationCumberland University

Biography

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Cummings was born in Cannon County, Tennessee, USA, east-southeast of Nashville. Other than during the course of his higher education he was a resident of that county throughout his life.

He was first elected to represent that area in the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1928 and served for ten consecutive terms. He was then elected Tennessee Secretary of State by his fellow legislators, serving from 1949 to 1953. He then returned to the legislature and served ten more consecutive terms prior to his retirement in 1972. During this time he became known as the "Dean of the Legislature" and also "The Last of the $4 a Day Men", in reference to his service at a time when Tennessee state legislators were allowed no salary at all and were paid only $4/day in expense money.

Cummings was very popular among his constituents and seldom faced any organized efforts to defeat him for reelection, and was honored by his peers during the last day of the 1972 session prior to his retirement. Later, the portion of State Route 53 between the Cannon County seat of Woodbury and Interstate 24 was named the Jim Cummings Highway in his honor. He is buried three miles outside of Woodbury.

Notes

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Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of State of Tennessee
1949–1953
Succeeded by
George Edward Friar