Garrett Lee Withers (June 21, 1884 – April 30, 1953) was an American politician and lawyer. As a Democrat, he represented Kentucky in the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.

Garrett Withers
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 2nd district
In office
August 2, 1952 – April 30, 1953
Preceded byJohn A. Whitaker
Succeeded byWilliam Natcher
Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
from the 13th district
In office
January 8, 1952 – August 2, 1952
Preceded byArchie R. Moore
United States Senator
from Kentucky
In office
January 20, 1949 – November 26, 1950
Appointed byEarle Clements
Preceded byAlben W. Barkley
Succeeded byEarle Clements
Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Highways
In office
December 10, 1947 – January 17, 1949
Appointed byEarle Clements
Preceded byJ. Stephen Watkins
Succeeded byJohn A. Keck
Personal details
Born
Garrett Lee Withers

(1884-06-21)June 21, 1884
Clay, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedApril 30, 1953(1953-04-30) (aged 68)
Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMabel C. Hammack[1]
Children3[1]

Withers was born on a farm in Webster County, Kentucky. He was admitted to the bar in 1908 and was a practicing attorney in Webster County from 1911 to 1953. He was elected clerk of Webster County Circuit Court and served from 1910 to 1912, and later as a master commissioner from 1913 to 1917. He served as a member of the Kentucky Highway Commission from 1932 to 1936; as a Referee in Bankruptcy from 1941 to 1945; and as an appointed commissioner for the Kentucky Department of Highways from 1947 to 1949.

He was appointed on January 20, 1949, to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Alben W. Barkley to become Vice President of the United States. Withers served from January 20, 1949, until a special election was held in November to fill the seat for the remainder of the term. Withers was not a candidate for the special election to the seat to which he was appointed.

Withers as a congressman, published in the 1953 pictorial directory.

Withers won election to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1951 and then won a special election (due to the death of Rep. John A. Whitaker) on August 2, 1952, to the United States House of Representatives. He served as a Democrat in the Eighty-second Congress and was reelected to the Eighty-third Congress. He served from August 2, 1952, until his death in the naval hospital at Bethesda, Maryland, on April 30, 1953.

See also

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References

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  • Official Congressional Directory: 83d Congress, 1st Session (1953)   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • United States Congress. "Garrett Withers (id: W000658)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
U.S. Senate
Preceded by United States Senator (Class 3) from Kentucky
January 20, 1949 – November 26, 1950
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by U.S. Representative, Kentucky 2nd District
August 2, 1952 – April 30, 1953
Succeeded by