Harold Earthman

Born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Earthman was the son of Vernon King Earthman, a physician, and his wife Virginia May Henderson Earthman.[1] He attended the public schools, Webb School at Bell Buckle, Tennessee, Southern Methodist University at Dallas, Texas, and the University of Texas at Austin. He married Mary Wilson Moore in 1920, and they had four children: Harold, Mary, Virginia, and Ben.[2][3]

During World War I, Earthman served in the United States Army as a private and was assigned to the Student Army Training Corps. After moving to Nashville, Tennessee, he engaged in the banking business from 1921 to 1925. Admitted to the bar in 1926, he commenced the practice of law in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, engaged in agricultural pursuits and was owner of Earthman Enterprises. He resumed the study of law and was graduated from Cumberland School of Law at Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1927.

Earthman was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1931 and 1932.[4] In the Tennessee House, he aligned with himself with Tennessee political boss E. H. Crump.[5] He served as associate administrator of war bonds for the State of Tennessee from 1940 to 1946, as well as judge of Rutherford County, Tennessee from 1942 to 1945.[4]

Elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-ninth Congress, Earthman served in that capacity from January 3, 1945, to January 3, 1947, representing Tennessee's 5th congressional district.[6] He sought renomination in 1946, but lost in the primary to Joe L. Evins. After leaving Congress, he resumed the practice of law and pursued business interests, establishing the first self-service laundry in Murfreesboro.[2]

Earthman died on February 26, 1987, in Murfreesboro. He is interred there at Evergreen Cemetery.[7]

• United States Congress. "Harold Earthman (id: E000016)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.