Vernon Presley

Lore & Background

Vernon Presley was the father of Elvis Presley. During Elvis's Army service, Vernon lived with his son at Fort Hood, Texas, along with Gladys Presley, Elvis's grandmother, and friend Lamar Fike. Soldiers who had dependents living off post were allowed to live with them, and having his family close cheered Elvis up immensely. In early August 1958, while in Texas with her son, Gladys Presley took ill due to acute hepatitis and liver failure. Elvis arranged for her and Vernon to return to Memphis on August 8. The next day, Gladys's condition worsened so rapidly that she was rushed to a hospital. On August 14, Gladys died; her death certificate lists acute hepatitis as the primary cause, with cirrhosis as a contributing factor. Elvis and Vernon were both devastated by her death. Her funeral was held on August 15, and both father and son were deeply affected by the loss.

In Their Own Story

In early August 1958, the Texas heat pressed down on the Presley family home near Fort Hood. Vernon Presley, living there with his son Elvis, his wife Gladys, his mother-in-law, and friend Lamar Fike, found himself in a heated argument with Gladys. The tension had been building—Gladys had increased her alcohol intake to cope with her son's fame and army commitments, and she had also begun using diet pills to attempt to lose weight. After the argument, Gladys collapsed from exhaustion. Elvis, seeing his mother's condition, arranged for her and Vernon to return to Memphis on August 8. But the next day, Gladys's condition worsened so rapidly that she was rushed to a hospital. On August 14, Gladys died from cirrhosis. Elvis and Vernon were both devastated by her death. At her funeral on August 15, Elvis collapsed with grief several times before, during, and after the service. Vernon, too, was left to mourn the woman who had been the center of their family.

Reader's Guide

Vernon Presley's role during Elvis's Army years was primarily as a family member living alongside his son. At Fort Hood, Texas, after a short break for Elvis to record new material for RCA Victor in June 1958, Elvis returned to finish his tank training. He was now living off post, in his own house, with his mother, father, grandmother, and friend Lamar Fike. Having his family close by cheered him up immensely. Vernon was present during the family crisis of August 1958, when Gladys took ill. After a heated argument with Vernon, Gladys collapsed from exhaustion. Elvis arranged for her and Vernon to return to Memphis on August 8. Following Gladys's death on August 14, Elvis and Vernon were both devastated. Elvis's leave was extended by five days on August 18, and when he finally left to return to Fort Hood, he left instructions that nothing in his mother's room was to be altered. Vernon's presence during this period provided a familial anchor for Elvis amid the upheaval of military service and personal loss.

Did You Know?

• Vernon Presley was the father of Elvis Presley and lived with him at Fort Hood, Texas, during Elvis's Army training.
• In early August 1958, Gladys Presley fell seriously ill due to acute hepatitis and liver failure, not simply exhaustion.
• Elvis arranged for Gladys and Vernon to return to Memphis on August 8, 1958, after Gladys fell ill.
• Following Gladys's death on August 14, 1958, Elvis and Vernon were both devastated by her loss.
• Vernon lived with Elvis, Gladys, Elvis's grandmother, and friend Lamar Fike in a house off post at Fort Hood.