Samuel "Sam" Burnham Gilreath
Dublin Core
Title
Samuel "Sam" Burnham Gilreath
Subject
Cumberland University
Cumberland School of Law
Sam Gilreath
Description
A portrait of Samuel "Sam" Burnham Gilreath, 16th University President, painted by Alice Stevens, undated.
Cartersville, Georgia native Samuel Burnham Gilreath, born in 1899, graduated from Cumberland School of Law in 1925. Following his graduation, Gilreath practiced law in Etowah, Tennessee, until 1932, when he returned to Cumberland School of Law as a Professor of Law. While in Lebanon, he served as the Wilson County Judge from 1939 until 1940. At the outbreak of World War II, Gilreath joined the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corp in 1943 and was honorably discharged in 1946, earning the rank of Major and named Military Governor of Rome.
After returning home, Gilreath became the Dean of Cumberland School of Law, a role he served from 1946 until 1948. In 1951, Gilreath served as the 16th University President of Cumberland University until 1955. During this time, he began serving on Cumberland's Board of Trust in 1952 (a position he would hold until his death) and was a member of the State Limited Constitutional Convention in 1953. Additionally, in 1955, he was a member of the Tennessee Code Commission and helped revise and edit the Tennessee Code.
When Cumberland School of Law was sold to Samford University in 1961, Gilreath followed, staying one year until his retirement and return to Lebanon. After retirement, he spent some time supporting John J. Hooker Jr.'s campaign for Tennessee's Democratic gubernatorial ticket. (The two are related by marriage--John J. Hooker Sr. was cousins with Gilreath's wife). He was also an avid writer, revising Caruthers' History of the Lawsuit three times. On September 24, 1966, Sam Gilreath died of a heart attack and is buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery in Lebanon. He left behind a wife, Alice "Allie" Williamson Bone, daughter of Cumberland University's sixth President, Rev. Winstead Paine Bone.
Cartersville, Georgia native Samuel Burnham Gilreath, born in 1899, graduated from Cumberland School of Law in 1925. Following his graduation, Gilreath practiced law in Etowah, Tennessee, until 1932, when he returned to Cumberland School of Law as a Professor of Law. While in Lebanon, he served as the Wilson County Judge from 1939 until 1940. At the outbreak of World War II, Gilreath joined the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corp in 1943 and was honorably discharged in 1946, earning the rank of Major and named Military Governor of Rome.
After returning home, Gilreath became the Dean of Cumberland School of Law, a role he served from 1946 until 1948. In 1951, Gilreath served as the 16th University President of Cumberland University until 1955. During this time, he began serving on Cumberland's Board of Trust in 1952 (a position he would hold until his death) and was a member of the State Limited Constitutional Convention in 1953. Additionally, in 1955, he was a member of the Tennessee Code Commission and helped revise and edit the Tennessee Code.
When Cumberland School of Law was sold to Samford University in 1961, Gilreath followed, staying one year until his retirement and return to Lebanon. After retirement, he spent some time supporting John J. Hooker Jr.'s campaign for Tennessee's Democratic gubernatorial ticket. (The two are related by marriage--John J. Hooker Sr. was cousins with Gilreath's wife). He was also an avid writer, revising Caruthers' History of the Lawsuit three times. On September 24, 1966, Sam Gilreath died of a heart attack and is buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery in Lebanon. He left behind a wife, Alice "Allie" Williamson Bone, daughter of Cumberland University's sixth President, Rev. Winstead Paine Bone.
Creator
Alice Stevens
Rights
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Format
.jpeg / portrait
Language
eng
Identifier
SA #2025-0267
RG: 200.16
Location: OS Artwork Shelf
RG: 200.16
Location: OS Artwork Shelf
Coverage
Lebanon, (Tenn.)
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
portrait
Citation
Alice Stevens, “Samuel "Sam" Burnham Gilreath,” Stockton Archives Digital Collections, accessed July 9, 2025, https://cumberland.omeka.net/items/show/304.