John Thomas Scopes - Paducah, Ky. - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

John T. Scopes was born in Paducah, Kentucky on August 3, 1900. In 1924 he was employed at Rhea County Central High School in Dayton, Tennessee as an algebra, chemistry and physics teacher. While employed at the high school, the State of Tennessee pass the Butler Act which made it illegal for anyone to teach Darwin’s Theory of Evolution in a public school. The ACLU enticed Scopes to work with them to challenge the law. While serving as a substitute biology teacher, Scopes admitted that he had used a text book that supported evolution while teaching his class. He was charged with violation of the Butler Act. His trial, which was known as the “Scopes Monkey Trial,” began on July 10, 1925 with famed lawyer Clarence Darrow representing him and former presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan as the chief prosecutor. The trial drew nationwide attention as both of the famed lawyers called numerous witnesses but on July 21, 1925, the jury returned a guilty verdict. The judge imposed a fine of $100 on Scopes who promptly appealed the conviction. The Tennessee Supreme Court later overturned the conviction holding that while the Butler Act was a legal statute, the judge errored in setting the fine rather than allowing the jury to set punishment. With the verdict overturned, the State of Tennessee declined to retry the case. John Scopes never taught again but went on to a successful career as a geologist. He died on July 21, 1970 from the complications of cancer and is buried with his wife and parent in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Paducah, Kentucky.
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Description: John Thomas Scopes was born on August 3, 1900 in Paducah, Kentucky. He attended both the University of Illinois and the University of Kentucky and eventually earned a law degree. In 1924 Scopes was employed by the Rhea County Central High School in Dayton, Tennessee. During this period there was a national debate going on about whether Charles Darwin’s Theory or Evolution should be taught in public schools. In March 1925, the State of Tennessee passed a law known as the Butler Act, which made it illegal for any teacher the theory of evolution. Working with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), John Scopes while serving as a substitute biology teacher admitted that he used a text book in his class that support evolution. He was charge with violating the Butler Act. On July 10, 1925, Scopes stood trial in Dayton, Tennessee. He was represented by one of the country’s most famous lawyers, Clarence Darrow and prosecuted by another famous attorney, William Jennings Bryan. The “Scopes Monkey Trail,” as it was call drew nationwide attention and after several days of testimony and grandstanding by both lawyers, John Scopes was found guilty on July 21, 1925. The conviction resulted in Scopes being fined a sum of $100. The case was appealed to the Tennessee Supreme Court where the conviction was overturned because the judge had set the fine rather than allowing the jury to set the fine. Once the conviction was overturned the State of Tennessee declined to retry the case. The Butler Act remain a part of Tennessee Law until it was repealed in May 1967. After the trial, John Scopes never taught again. He obtained a master’s degree in geology from the University of Colorado and later married Mildred Walker. The couple had two children and lived a large part of their life in Louisiana where John worked for Gulf Oil Company and later United Gas. John T. Scopes died on October 21, 1970 from the complications of cancer. He is resting in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Paducah, Kentucky. Date of birth: 08/03/1900 Date of death: 10/21/1970 Area of notoriety: Education Marker Type: Headstone Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Dawn to Dusk Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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