Harry Truman Mural

Harry S Truman
609 W Washington
Cuba, MO

Harry S. Truman was born in Lamar, Missouri in 1884. He grew up in Independence, Missouri and for 12 years prospered as a Missouri farmer. He went to France during World War I as a captain in the Field Artillery. After he returned, he married Elizabeth Virginia Wallace and ran a haberdashery in Kansas City. Later, he became successful in Democratic politics, and he was elected senator for the first time in 1934.

The fourth mural in Cuba involves a scene from 1940. When Sen. Harry S. Truman, a native Missourian, campaigned for reelection in a close 1940 primary in Cuba, two local Democratic workers Frank Askins Sr. and Harvey Taff, were his only listeners on the steps of the adjacent Wallace House. This was on July 26, 1940. On that day he was traveling to Cape Girardeau and Cuba. As people kept hurrying past him and not listening, he learned they were going to the Homecoming Fair. Picking up the Coca-Cola box on which he stood, Truman followed them to the fair. Local legend has it that he had to collect gas money after his speech so that he could drive on to the next speech. The Crawford County Fair, under various names, is a century old tradition, as is 4-H.

Truman went on to win the primary and the election for senator in 1940. He became Vice President in 1944. After President Franklin Roosevelt died while in office, on April 12, 1945 Truman became President of the U.S. He was President as the country finished W.W. II.

Visit the Truman Library site for more information Harry S. Truman and his museum in Independence, Missouri.

The Artist: Jay Ferger. a resident of Webster Groves, is a graduate of Webster University. His many years of experience include associations with Maritz, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, the Santa Fe Opera, the Minnesota Opera, and the St Louis Symphony.