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Piece of History: Turkey to Truman
Marion man delivered Massachusetts bird in 1949
On Wednesday, Nov. 16, 1949, a Marion man delivered a turkey to President Harry Truman for Thanksgiving.
Hugh Gordon, president of the Poultry and Egg National Board, and M.C. Small of Mount Morris, Ill., secretary of the National Turkey Federation, delivered the 40-pound bird to the president.
The turkey had been raised in Granby, Mass.
By the time Gordon presented the turkey, the president already had received five turkeys, including one dressed as a Pilgrim. The presentation was before the tradition of the president “pardoning” the turkey began again.
Tara Templeman is curator at The History Center. Comments: curator@historycenter.org
Hugh Gordon of Marion, president of the Poultry and Egg National Board, and M.C. Small of Mount Morris, secretary of the National Turkey Federation, deliver a 40-pound turkey on Nov. 16, 1949, to President Harry Truman. (The History Center)
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