C.B. “Blint” Cox
Written by Justin D. Lamb
C.B. Cox, circa 1927
For many years, Blint Cox was a familiar face in the old Benton Post Office on Poplar Street. He served as Benton Postmaster throughout the Roosevelt, Truman, and Eisenhower years and also enjoyed successful careers in law, insurance, banking, and real estate.
Charles Blinton “Blint” Cox was born in Graves County, Kentucky on October 5, 1883 to D.M. “Buck” Cox and Minerva Josephine Ray. Cox was raised outside of Mayfield and attended Farmington Institute in the small community of Farmington. He first came to Marshall County in his teenage years when he enrolled at the old Marshall County Seminary School in Benton.
After graduating seminary school, Cox enrolled at Southern Normal School at Bowling Green, Kentucky around the turn of the century and received his law degree. He returned to Graves County in 1905 and began teaching in the common schools. Around 1906, Cox moved to Marshall County when he became Principal of Benton Graded School. Eager to practice law, Cox became a partner with E.L. Cooper at his law firm in Benton in 1909. By 1913, Cox took a position as head cashier of the Bank of Marshall County which was located next door to his law firm. He was very active in the World War I effort serving as Chairman of the Sales Division of the Liberty Loans Campaign in Marshall County. Cox remained with the Bank of Marshall County until 1920 when he became an independent insurance salesman and real estate broker.
Cox was very active in the local Democratic Party and he won his first elective office in 1925 when he defeated incumbent County Attorney W.W. English. Cox carried every voting precinct and won in a landslide. Two years later, Cox ran for Commonwealth Attorney of the Second Judicial District (Marshall and McCracken Counties), but came in second place in a very close race against H.H. Lovett. After his defeat for Commonwealth Attorney, Cox ran for re-election as County Attorney in 1929. He was challenged by former County Attorney and County Judge Henry B. Holland who argued that Cox was overly ambitious and that the people deserved a county attorney who was committed to the office. The race was tight up until the very end and Cox was defeated by 464 votes.
Cox returned to private law practice and joined in partners with Walter Prince until he was appointment Benton Postmaster by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on July 17, 1933. Cox would serve as postmaster until he retired in 1953. After twenty years with the postal service, Cox joined law partners Walter Prince, Marvin Prince, and Joe Asher at their law firm on Main Street. In 1957, Cox entered a spirited race for City Judge of Benton against incumbent judge H.A. Riley. Cox argued that his law experience made him more qualified over Riley who was a businessman by trade. However, on Election Day, Cox was unable to unseat the popular incumbent losing by several hundred votes.
As the 1960s dawned, Cox became semi-retired from practicing law, but remained active in the community. He was a deacon and Sunday School teacher at First Christian Church in Benton and was a member of the T.L. Jefferson Masonic Lodge 622. “Blint” Cox passed away on New Year’s Day 1962 at the age of 78. He was laid to rest in the Benton Cemetery.