James Edward RUFFIN, Congress, MO (1893-1977)

RUFFIN James Edward , a Representative from Missouri; born on a farm near Covington, Tipton County, Tenn., July 24, 1893; in 1905 moved to Missouri with his parents, who settled in Aurora, Lawrence County; attended the grade schools; was graduated from the Aurora High School in 1912 and from Drury College, Springfield, Mo., in 1916; taught school at Nickerson (Kans.) College in 1917; during the First World War was commissioned a first lieutenant on November 27, 1917; served in the Fifty-third Regiment, Pioneer Infantry, overseas with the First and Thirty-fifth Divisions, and was discharged on June 3, 1919; was graduated from the law department of Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tenn., in 1920; was admitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice in Springfield, Mo.; served as assistant city attorney 1926-1928; elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-third Congress (March 4, 1933-January 3, 1935); unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1934 to the Seventy-fourth Congress; appointed special assistant to the Attorney General of the United States on May 9, 1935, assigned to the criminal division of the Department of Justice, and served until August 1953; resumed the practice of law in Springfield, Mo., where he died April 9, 1977; interment in East Lawn Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present