Earl Wilson (politician)

Earl Wilson (April 18, 1906 – April 27, 1990) was a United States Representative from Indiana. He was born on a farm near Huron, Indiana and attended public schools there. He attended Purdue University and received degrees from Coyne Electrical School of Chicago, Illinois in 1928 and Indiana University of Bloomington, Indiana in 1931. He taught high school in Dubois, White, and Decautur Counties between 1931 and 1938 and as a high school principal in Jackson County 1939-1940.

Wilson decided to enter politics and in 1940 he narrowly defeated New Deal Democrat incumbent Eugene B. Crowe 71,624-69,227 and was elected as the Republican Representative for Indiana's 9th congressional district. He served in the United States Congress until 1958, when he was defeated by Earl Hogan for reelection. In 1960, he defeated Hogan and was returned to Congress in 1961. Wilson won reelection in 1962.]. It was during this term that Wilson was the only member of the Indiana Congressional delegation to vote against the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act. Not long after that vote in Congress Wilson was defeated for reelection by Democrat Lee Hamilton 74,939 - 62,780.

After his loss to Hamilton in 1964 Wilson was elected to the Indiana State Senator serving there from 1969-1976. He was a resident of Bedford, Indiana, until his death on April 27, 1990.