Oscar Lovette

Lovette was born in Greeneville, Tennessee and graduated from Parrottsville High School, and, in 1893, from Tusculum College. He married Lillie Fowler on December 23, 1897,[1] and they had four children.

In 1894 Lovette was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives, serving from 1895 to 1897. During this period he studied law at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, and was admitted to the bar in 1896. A Republican, he was elected District Attorney for the former 1st Judicial District in his native East Tennessee in 1918, serving until 1926. He was also engaged in banking, serving as president of Citizens Savings Bank of Greenville from 1912 to 1918. He served as a trustee of Tusculum College;[2] and was Clerk in the Quartermaster department of the U. S. A., in Cuba during Spanish–American War.

In 1930, Lovette sought the Republican nomination for United States Representative from the 1st Congressional District against incumbent Carroll Reece and defeated him in the Republican primary in August, which was tantamount to election. Lovette won the general election in November 1930 without any serious opposition and served in the 72nd Congress from March 4, 1931 to March 3, 1933.[3] However, in 1932 Reece sought to return to his former seat and defeated Lovette for renomination. Lovette contested the November election as an Independent, a practice then permissible under Tennessee law, but was again defeated by Reece. He then resumed practicing law until his death.

Lovette died in Greeneville, Greene County, Tennessee on July 6, 1934 (age 62 years, 198 days). He is interred at Oak Grove Cemetery, Greeneville, Tennessee.[4]

• United States Congress. "Oscar Lovette (id: L000467)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Oscar Lovette at Find a Grave