Oscar Byrd Lovette
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 1st district
In office March 4, 1931 – March 3, 1933
Preceded by	B. Carroll Reece
Succeeded by	B. Carroll Reece
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
In office 1895-1897
Personal details
Born	December 20, 1871 (1871-12-20) Greeneville, Tennessee
Died	July 6, 1934 (1934-07-07) (aged 62)
Citizenship	United States
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Lillie Fowler Lovette
Children	Leland P Lovette
Alma mater	Tusculum College Vanderbilt University
Profession	Attorney politician banker

Oscar Byrd Lovette (December 20, 1871 – July 6, 1934) was a United States Representative from Tennessee.

Biography

Lovette was born in Greeneville, Tennessee and graduated from Parrottsville High School, and, in 1893, from Tusculum College. He married Lillie Fowler on December 23, 1897,^[1] and they had four children.

Career

In 1894 Lovette was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives, serving from 1895 to 1897. During this period he studied law at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, and was admitted to the bar in 1896. A Republican, he was elected District Attorney for the former 1st Judicial District in his native East Tennessee in 1918, serving until 1926. He was also engaged in banking, serving as president of Citizens Savings Bank of Greenville from 1912 to 1918. He served as a trustee of Tusculum College;^[2] and was Clerk in the Quartermaster department of the U. S. A., in Cuba during Spanish–American War.

In 1930, Lovette ran as an Independent for United States Representative from the 1st Congressional District against incumbent Carroll Reece and defeated him. He served in the 72nd Congress from March 4, 1931 to March 3, 1933.^[3] However, in 1932 Reece again sought the Republican nomination for his former seat and defeated Lovette, who had attempted to return to Congress as a Republican. Lovette contested the November election as an Independent, a practice then permissible under Tennessee law, but this time Reece turned back Lovette's Independent candidacy. Lovette then resumed practicing law until his death.

Death

Lovette died in Greeneville, Greene County, Tennessee on July 6, 1934 (age 62 years, 198 days). He is interred at Oak Grove Cemetery, Greeneville, Tennessee.^[4]