Gabriel Heyward Mahon Jr. (November 11, 1889 – June 11, 1962) was a

U.S. representative The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of th ...

from

South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...

. G. Heyward Mahon Jr. was born in

Williamston, South Carolina Williamston is a town in Anderson County, South Carolina. The population was 4,043 at the 2020 census. Geography Williamston is located in northeastern Anderson County at (34.617699, -82.479256). The twin towns of Pelzer and West Pelzer are ...

, and moved with his parents to

Greenville, South Carolina Greenville ( ; ) is a city in Greenville County, South Carolina, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 70,720 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, sixth-most pop ...

in 1898. His father, Gabriel Heyward Mahon Sr., was a successful merchant who served as mayor of Greenville. The younger Mahon attended the public schools and graduated from Greenville High School in 1904. He attended

The Citadel The Citadel Military College of South Carolina (simply known as The Citadel) is a public senior military college in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Established in 1842, it is the third oldest of the six senior military colleges ...

Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atla ...

for two years as a member of the Class of 1909 before withdrawing to begin a business career. He was employed as a clerk in his father's retail store from 1900 to 1907, and as a traveling salesman from 1907 to 1911. In 1911, Mahon started his own retail clothing business in Greenville. Mahon served in the

National Guard National guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards. ...

before

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. During the war, he served in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

as a captain and later major in 1st Battalion, 118th Infantry regiment, 30th Division. He was awarded the

Purple Heart The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the president to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, ...

and the

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against a ...

. After the war, he was active in the

American Legion The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is an Voluntary association, organization of United States, U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It comprises U.S. state, state, Territories of the United States, U.S. terr ...

, including service as South Carolina's state commander. He was a trustee of Greenville Woman's College from 1921 to 1936. Mahon was elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

to the Seventy-fourth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John J. McSwain and on the same day was elected to the Seventy-fifth Congress and served from November 3, 1936, to January 3, 1939. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1938. After leaving Congress, Mahon resumed former business pursuits in Greenville. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he was executive director of South Carolina's Council of defense. Mahon died in Greenville on June 11, 1962. He was interred in Woodlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Sources

G. Heyward Mahon Jr.
at The Political Graveyard * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mahon, Gabriel H. Jr. 1889 births 1962 deaths United States Army officers Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from South Carolina The Citadel alumni People from Williamston, South Carolina Greenville Senior High School (Greenville, South Carolina) alumni 20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives Politicians from Greenville, South Carolina