Family Group Sheet
NameHarlan Hobart Grooms, 2C2R
Birth7 Nov 1900, Montgomery Co., Kentucky
Death23 Aug 1991, Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Alabama
FatherJohn Franklin Grooms (1867-1951)
MotherIda Pearl Alfrey (1874-1962)
Notes for Harlan Hobart Grooms
The Lexington Herald-Leader of August 26, 1991 reported
“BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Harlan Hobart Grooms, 90, a senior U.S. district judge whose desegregation rulings prompted former Gov. George C. Wallace's famous "stand in the schoolhouse door," died Friday. Mr. Grooms, appointed to the federal bench by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1953, died at his Birmingham home.
In 1962, Vivian Malone and two other blacks sued to be admitted to the University of Alabama, and Mr. Grooms ordered the school to accept them as students.
Wallace vowed to keep blacks from attending the university. After a brief stand in a schoolhouse doorway, Wallace stepped aside without incident, and Malone became the university's first black student in 1963.
Mr. Grooms, a native of rural Montgomery County, Ky., received a law degree from the University of Kentucky in 1926. He became a senior partner in Spain, Gillon, Grooms & Young in Birmingham.
He also is credited with helping bring the Cumberland School of Law to Samford University.”
The Hall of Distinguished Alumni 116web site at the University of Kentucky reports:
“Harlan Hobart Grooms
Born in Montgomery County, Ky., on November 7, 1900. Federal Judge. University of Kentucky, LL.B., 1926.
He began the practice of law in Birmingham, Alabama, with the firm of Coleman, Coleman, Spain and Stewart shortly after receiving his law degree at the University in 1926 . He later organized his own firm of Spain, Gillon, Grooms and Young. He was appointed U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama on August 17, 1953.
While at the University, he was a member of the Student Speakers Bureau; Scabbard and Blade; Phi Alpha Delta; and Omicron Delta Kappa. During his junior year, he was Associate Editor and in his senior year he was Editor-in-Chief of the "Kentucky Law Journal."
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Birmingham for 43 years, was Chairman of the Board of Deacons, and served on most committees of the church, teaching a men's Bible class for 40 years. He later became a member of the Baptist Church of the Covenant, and was Chairman of the Board of Deacons.
He has served as a trustee of Samford University (25 years) and was Chairman of its executive committee (15 years). He was Chairman of the advisory committee of the Cumberland School of Law, and a member of the advisory committee of the School of Nursing. In 1977 Samford conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. He served for 20 years as trustee of Birmingham Baptist Hospitals and was a member of the executive committee of the board, He was a member of the board of trustees of the Alabama Baptist Foundation. For six years, he was a member of the executive committee of the Southern Baptist Convention and of its finance committee.
Also, he was a member of the executive committee of the Birmingham Bar Association, and on the board of the Jefferson County Blind Association, From 1926-30, he was a reserve officer in the 87th Infantry Division.
Upon his attainment of senior status in 1969, the Birmingham Bar Association cited him "for distinguished service to the Bench and Bar." In 1968, he was honored by Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity on the hundredth year of its founding as a member of the Committee of One Hundred "for distinguished achievement in his chosen profession." He has written a number of articles for the "Kentucky Law Journal," "The Alabama Lawyer," "Probation," and "Christianity Today."
As an attorney, he was engaged in many important cases, including the Western Grain litigation, which was in the court for 12 years and covered a record of more than 15,000 pages and involved 27 appeals. As a judge, he presided in the Belcher litigation, which encompassed a record of 16,000 pages with more than 1,600 exhibits. The findings and conclusions cover 100 pages in the "Federal Supplement." These cases have not been surpassed in scope of amounts involved in either state or federal courts. In 1956, he presided in the Autherine Lucy case and directed the University of Alabama to admit her as its first black student.
For a number of years, he was Chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Judicial Conference of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. In addition to duties in his own district, he has presided in the courts of North Carolina, Georgia, California, Kentucky and Tennessee.
He was a member of the initial task force for the promulgation of the Rules of Civil Procedure for the State of Alabama, and was on the study committee for the change of government of the City of Birmingham from commission to mayor-council.
Through the years he has taken an active part in the civic, religious, and political affairs of Birmingham and of the State of Alabama.
Harlan Hobart Grooms was named to the Hall of Distinguished Alumni in February 1965.”
The SSDI lists Harlan H. Grooms, born 7 Nov 1900, died 23 Aug 1991, SSN issued in Alabama in 1962.
“BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Harlan Hobart Grooms, 90, a senior U.S. district judge whose desegregation rulings prompted former Gov. George C. Wallace's famous "stand in the schoolhouse door," died Friday. Mr. Grooms, appointed to the federal bench by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1953, died at his Birmingham home.
In 1962, Vivian Malone and two other blacks sued to be admitted to the University of Alabama, and Mr. Grooms ordered the school to accept them as students.
Wallace vowed to keep blacks from attending the university. After a brief stand in a schoolhouse doorway, Wallace stepped aside without incident, and Malone became the university's first black student in 1963.
Mr. Grooms, a native of rural Montgomery County, Ky., received a law degree from the University of Kentucky in 1926. He became a senior partner in Spain, Gillon, Grooms & Young in Birmingham.
He also is credited with helping bring the Cumberland School of Law to Samford University.”
The Hall of Distinguished Alumni 116web site at the University of Kentucky reports:
“Harlan Hobart Grooms
Born in Montgomery County, Ky., on November 7, 1900. Federal Judge. University of Kentucky, LL.B., 1926.
He began the practice of law in Birmingham, Alabama, with the firm of Coleman, Coleman, Spain and Stewart shortly after receiving his law degree at the University in 1926 . He later organized his own firm of Spain, Gillon, Grooms and Young. He was appointed U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama on August 17, 1953.
While at the University, he was a member of the Student Speakers Bureau; Scabbard and Blade; Phi Alpha Delta; and Omicron Delta Kappa. During his junior year, he was Associate Editor and in his senior year he was Editor-in-Chief of the "Kentucky Law Journal."
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Birmingham for 43 years, was Chairman of the Board of Deacons, and served on most committees of the church, teaching a men's Bible class for 40 years. He later became a member of the Baptist Church of the Covenant, and was Chairman of the Board of Deacons.
He has served as a trustee of Samford University (25 years) and was Chairman of its executive committee (15 years). He was Chairman of the advisory committee of the Cumberland School of Law, and a member of the advisory committee of the School of Nursing. In 1977 Samford conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. He served for 20 years as trustee of Birmingham Baptist Hospitals and was a member of the executive committee of the board, He was a member of the board of trustees of the Alabama Baptist Foundation. For six years, he was a member of the executive committee of the Southern Baptist Convention and of its finance committee.
Also, he was a member of the executive committee of the Birmingham Bar Association, and on the board of the Jefferson County Blind Association, From 1926-30, he was a reserve officer in the 87th Infantry Division.
Upon his attainment of senior status in 1969, the Birmingham Bar Association cited him "for distinguished service to the Bench and Bar." In 1968, he was honored by Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity on the hundredth year of its founding as a member of the Committee of One Hundred "for distinguished achievement in his chosen profession." He has written a number of articles for the "Kentucky Law Journal," "The Alabama Lawyer," "Probation," and "Christianity Today."
As an attorney, he was engaged in many important cases, including the Western Grain litigation, which was in the court for 12 years and covered a record of more than 15,000 pages and involved 27 appeals. As a judge, he presided in the Belcher litigation, which encompassed a record of 16,000 pages with more than 1,600 exhibits. The findings and conclusions cover 100 pages in the "Federal Supplement." These cases have not been surpassed in scope of amounts involved in either state or federal courts. In 1956, he presided in the Autherine Lucy case and directed the University of Alabama to admit her as its first black student.
For a number of years, he was Chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Judicial Conference of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. In addition to duties in his own district, he has presided in the courts of North Carolina, Georgia, California, Kentucky and Tennessee.
He was a member of the initial task force for the promulgation of the Rules of Civil Procedure for the State of Alabama, and was on the study committee for the change of government of the City of Birmingham from commission to mayor-council.
Through the years he has taken an active part in the civic, religious, and political affairs of Birmingham and of the State of Alabama.
Harlan Hobart Grooms was named to the Hall of Distinguished Alumni in February 1965.”
The SSDI lists Harlan H. Grooms, born 7 Nov 1900, died 23 Aug 1991, SSN issued in Alabama in 1962.
Census
1930 census of Jefferson Co., Alabama, Birmingham, enumerated 18 April, lists on p. 20A as a roomer in a boarding house run by Mary E. Donahoe, Hobert Groomes, 26, b. Ky Ky Ky, attorney at law.
