The Douglas-Coffee County Veterans Park Committee, American Legion Post 515, VFW 5976, and the City of Douglas invite the community to attend a special ceremony dedicating a memorial to Douglas resident John Strickland Gibson, known as the “Man Who Saved the G.I. Bill.” The ceremony will take place at the Douglas Municipal Airport Terminal on June 10, 2026, at 9 a.m.
The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, widely known as the G.I. Bill, was designed to help World War II veterans including minorities and women return to civilian life by providing support for education, housing, and unemployment benefits. It also aimed to prevent economic instability and mass unemployment that may have followed the return of more than 15 million service members following the end of the war.
On June 9, 1944, the bill stalled in a House–Senate Conference Committee deadlocked at 3–3 while Congressman Gibson was home in Douglas. Learning of the situation, Gibson began what became known as his “Midnight Run” to Washington, D.C. According to accounts, he entered the committee meeting and declared, “Americans are dying today in Normandy in the greatest invasion in all history. I’m going to hold a press conference after this meeting and castigate anyone who dares to vote against the bill.” He cast the deciding vote at 10:00 a.m. on June 10, 1944. The bill passed without opposition, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed it into law on June 22, 1944.
Gibson moved to Douglas in 1920 and graduated from Georgia Normal College. He served as a U.S. Representative for Georgia’s 8th District, earning a reputation as one of the state’s most respected and formidable attorneys. Serving in Congress throughout World War II, he is remembered for his historic vote that ensured the passage of the G.I. Bill, which has since provided billions of dollars in benefits to help veterans successfully transition to civilian life.
