Norman Stanley Case Passes Away

Today in Masonic History Norman Stanley Case passes away in 1967.

Norman Stanley Case was an American politician.

Case was born on October 11th, 1888 in Providence, Rhode Island. He attended Brown University where he graduated in 1908. After graduating from Brown he attended Harvard Law School before moving to Boston University Law School where he received a law degree in 1912. After graduating from law school he opened a legal practice in Providence. Shortly after opening his practice he was elected to the Providence City Council.

Case was a member of the Rhode Island National Guard and was called, with his unit, to Federal service in 1916. He served with his unit as a captain on the Mexican border. The unit was mustered out of Federal Service only to be recalled to Federal service after the start of World War I. In April, 1917 Case's company was reorganized to be part of the 103d Machine Gun Battalion which was assigned to the 26th Division.

After arriving in France in late 1917, Case was assigned as Judge Advocate of the 26th Division in January of 1918. He was also Assistant Provost Marshal for the Services of Supply. He was reassigned to the administrative section of the Headquarters of the Services of Supply on August 11 and to the supply section on April 20, 1919. In 1919 he returned to the United States and was discharged from the military. He was awarded the Order of the Black Star of Benin by the French government for his service in France during the war. During his entire military service Case remained a member of the Providence City Council.

In 1921, Case was appointed by President Warren G. Harding as the United States District Attorney for Rhode Island. He held the position until 1926 when he ran for Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island. He was successful in his run for office and began serving in 1927. He served as Lieutenant Governor for one year when the sitting Governor of Rhode Island died in office in 1928, making Case the acting Governor. Later in 1928, Case won his own term as Governor. He was reelected in 1930, but failed in his attempt for a third term, losing to T. F. Green. Case's loss marked a change in Rhode Island politics. The state had been dominated by Case's Republicans Party. Green ushered in the domination of Democrats in Rhode Island politics.

In 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Case as one of the first Commissioners of the new Federal Communication Commission (FCC). In 1938, he was reappointed to a full seven year term. By 1945, T.F. Green had become a United States Senator and opposed Case's appointment to the FCC. Truman did not attempt to renominate Case. After leaving the FCC case remained in Washington D.C. and opened a new law firm there.

Case passed away on October 9th, 1967.

Case was a member of Corinthian Lodge No. 27 in Providence, Rhode Island.

This article provided by Brother Eric C. Steele.