Thompson, M. E. (Melvin Ernest), 1903-1980

M.E. Thompson (1903- ), Georgia Lt. Governor (1946), served as Georgia Governor (1947-1949) after the death of Eugene Talmadge.

M.E. Thompson (1903-1980) was born in Jenkins County, Georgia. He held various positions in public school education and in politics, including acting governer of Georgia from 1947-1948.

Melvin Ernest Thompson (1903- ), educator, politician, Executive Secretary to Ellis Arnall (1943-1945), Lt. Governor (1946-1948).

Born on May 1, 1903, Melvin Earnest (M. E.) Thompson attended Millen High School. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Emory University and a master's degree in education at the University of Georgia. In 1926, he married Ann Newton and began his career in public education at the Emanuel County Institute. In 1927, Thompson was appointed to serve as superintendent of the Hawkinsville school system. In the years that followed, he served as state school supervisor and assistant state superintendent of schools. Thompson was active in Ellis Arnall's 1942 gubernatorial campaign; upon Arnall's win, Thompson was appointed as the new governor's executive secretary. In 1946, Thompson campaigned to become the state's first lieutenant governor and won, despite the fact that he did not align himself with any of the gubernatorial candidates. .

In the 1946 gubernatorial election, longtime politician and former governor Eugene Talmadge was elected to become Georgia's chief executive for the fourth time. Then suddenly, on December 21, 1946, Governor-elect Talmadge passed away before being sworn-in. His unexpected death set in motion a series of events which came to be known as Georgia's three governors controversy. Three men believed themselved to be Talmadge's successor. M. E. Thompson, as the newly elected lieutenant governor, presumed he was the lawful governor. Eugene Talmadge's son, Herman, had received a larger number of write-in votes. The younger Talmadge believed his popular support entitled him to the seat. Finally, incumbent governor Ellis Arnall refused to leave the office until a constitutional decision was made by the Georgia General Assembly naming the next executive of the state. The General Assembly, packed with longtime Talmadge supporters, named Herman Talmadge as the rightful governor reasoning that having the second highest number of votes after Eugene he was entitled to the office. The state Supreme Court found this internal vote unconstitutional and named Thompson governor of Georgia in March of 1947. He served in this capacity until Herman Talmadge defeated him in a special election held in the summer of 1948. Thompson ran against Talmadge twice more, in the 1950 gubernatorial race and 1956 senatorial race, but was unable to defeat him in either attempt. After Thompson's defeat in the 1956 senatorial race, he moved his family to Valdosta, Georgia where he became involved in real estate. In 1962, he unsuccessfully ran his final political campaign to represent the eighth district in the Georgia Senate. Throughout the next two decades Thompson was actively involved in Valdosta's economic development, industrial growth, and avidly supported Valdosta Tech and Valdosta State College. M. E. Thompson died on October 3, 1980 in Valdosta, Georgia.