Gordon Browning was born in Carroll County. After graduating from Cumberland Law School in 1915, he began practicing in Huntingdon. He commanded Battery D, 114th Field Artillery in France in World War I. In 1922 he was elected to Congress and served six terms, and in 1937 he was inaugurated as governor. During World War II Colonel Browning served in Military Government in the Belgrum - Luxembourg Mission and in Germany. Reelected governor of Tennessee in 1948, he held office until 1953.