John Randolph Neal Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Neal (left) with John T. Scopes | |
| Born | John O'Brien Neal[1] September 17, 1876 Rhea Springs, Tennessee, United States[2] |
| Died | November 23, 1959 (aged 83) |
| Resting place | Ault Cemetery Roane County, Tennessee[4] 35°52′32″N 84°37′38″W / 35.87563°N 84.62715°W |
| Education | University of Tennessee, A.B. Vanderbilt University, LL.B. Columbia University, Ph.D.[2] |
| Occupation(s) | Attorney, professor, politician |
| Political party | Democratic[2] |
| Parent(s) | John R. Neal and Mary Elizabeth Brown[2] |
John Randolph Neal Jr. (September 17, 1876 – November 23, 1959) was an American attorney, law professor, politician, and activist, best known for his role as chief counsel during the 1925 Scopes Trial, and as an advocate for the establishment of the Tennessee Valley Authority in the 1920s and 1930s.[2] He also taught law at the University of Denver and the University of Tennessee, and served in the Tennessee state legislature. He was a candidate for governor or senator numerous times between 1912 and 1954.[3]: 65
Known as "The Great Objector" for his uncomprising (and often unpopular) support of progressive causes,[3]: 33 Neal was among the U.T. faculty members fired in 1923 by the school's administration in a controversy that became known as the "Slaughter of the Ph.Ds."[1] He campaigned for civil liberties, public control of waterways, and workers' rights,[3]: 65 and defended striking workers pro bono on several occasions.[3]: 47
Neal is often remembered for his eccentric personality and unconventional behavior, which included an almost total disregard for his own appearance.[3]: 60–61
- ^ a b Finding Aid for the John R. Neal Papers Archived 2012-03-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved: 20 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Alice Howell, Lucile Deaderick (ed.), Heart of the Valley: A History of Knoxville, Tennessee (East Tennessee Historical Society, 1976), pp. 582–583.
- ^ a b c d e f Bobby Hicks, "The Great Objector: The Life and Career of Dr. John Randolph Neal," East Tennessee Historical Society Publications, Vol. 41 (1969), pp. 33–66.
- ^ Find A Grave – John Ranolph Neal (1876–1959). Retrieved: 20 September 2011.
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