| | Reece was born on a farm in rural Eastern Tennessee on December 22, 1889 to Sarah Maples and John Isaac Reece, being one of thirteen children. He was named after General Brazilla Carroll McBride (who served in the [[War of 1812]]), though never went by his first name. Reece attended Carson-Newman College, where he participated in [[basketball]] and [[football]] in addition to being the [[valedictorian]] of the 1914 class. | | Reece was born on a farm in rural Eastern Tennessee on December 22, 1889 to Sarah Maples and John Isaac Reece, being one of thirteen children. He was named after General Brazilla Carroll McBride (who served in the [[War of 1812]]), though never went by his first name. Reece attended Carson-Newman College, where he participated in [[basketball]] and [[football]] in addition to being the [[valedictorian]] of the 1914 class. |
| | Reece was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1920<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300758 TN District 01 Race - Nov 02, 1920]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 29, 2021.</ref> and re-elected four times.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300757 TN District 01 Race - Nov 07, 1922]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 29, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300751 TN District 01 Race - Nov 04, 1924]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 29, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300750 TN District 01 Race - Nov 02, 1926]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 29, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300749 TN District 01 Race - Nov 06, 1928]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 29, 2021.</ref> He lost in the 1930 midterms to Independent Republican Oscar Byrd Lovette<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300748 TN District 01 Race - Nov 04, 1930]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 29, 2021.</ref> following backlash from constituents over the Muscle Shoals (considered a forerunner to the [[Tennessee Valley Authority]]) being vetoed by President [[Herbert Hoover]] as well as having failed to ensure the Cove Creek Dam being built.<ref>[https://knoxfocus.com/columnist/hill/carroll-reece-tennessees-mr-republican-pt9/ Carroll Reece: Tennessee’s ‘Mr. Republican’ Pt9]. ''The Knoxville Focus''. Retrieved May 29, 2021.</ref> However, he narrowly re-emerged in 1932<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300747 TN District 01 Race - Nov 08, 1932]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 29, 2021.</ref> and continued being re-elected consecutively until unsuccessfully running for an open Senate seat in 1948; afterwards he returned to the House yet again and continued serving until his death. | | Reece was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1920<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300758 TN District 01 Race - Nov 02, 1920]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 29, 2021.</ref> and re-elected four times.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300757 TN District 01 Race - Nov 07, 1922]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 29, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300751 TN District 01 Race - Nov 04, 1924]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 29, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300750 TN District 01 Race - Nov 02, 1926]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 29, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300749 TN District 01 Race - Nov 06, 1928]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 29, 2021.</ref> He lost in the 1930 midterms to Independent Republican Oscar Byrd Lovette<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300748 TN District 01 Race - Nov 04, 1930]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 29, 2021.</ref> following backlash from constituents over the Muscle Shoals (considered a forerunner to the [[Tennessee Valley Authority]]) being vetoed by President [[Herbert Hoover]] as well as having failed to ensure the Cove Creek Dam being built.<ref>[https://knoxfocus.com/columnist/hill/carroll-reece-tennessees-mr-republican-pt9/ Carroll Reece: Tennessee’s ‘Mr. Republican’ Pt9]. ''The Knoxville Focus''. Retrieved May 29, 2021.</ref> However, he narrowly re-emerged in 1932<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300747 TN District 01 Race - Nov 08, 1932]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 29, 2021.</ref> and continued being re-elected consecutively until unsuccessfully running for an open Senate seat in 1948; afterwards he returned to the House yet again and continued serving until his death. |