North Carolina Governor. Born in York County, South Carolina, he lived with his grandparents in Gaston County, North Carolina after the death of his mother. He attended Trinity College (now Duke University), obtaining his law degree. During World War I, he organized Company A of the 115th Machine Gun Battalion and then served as Captain. His first elective office was as Mayor of Gastonia, North Carolina, serving from 1919 to 1923. A few years later he was elected as a Democrat to the North Carolina State Legislature, serving terms in the State House from 1931 to 1940 (and serving as Speaker of the House in 1937), and in the State Senate from 1941 to 1943. In 1945 he was elected as Governor of North Carolina, succeeding Governor J. Melville Broughton. As governor his major achievements were to expand resources for mental health care, public schools and road paving. After serving one term that ended in 1949, he retired to the private practice of law in Gastonia. He remained active in his law practice and numerous fraternal organizations until his death.
North Carolina Governor. Born in York County, South Carolina, he lived with his grandparents in Gaston County, North Carolina after the death of his mother. He attended Trinity College (now Duke University), obtaining his law degree. During World War I, he organized Company A of the 115th Machine Gun Battalion and then served as Captain. His first elective office was as Mayor of Gastonia, North Carolina, serving from 1919 to 1923. A few years later he was elected as a Democrat to the North Carolina State Legislature, serving terms in the State House from 1931 to 1940 (and serving as Speaker of the House in 1937), and in the State Senate from 1941 to 1943. In 1945 he was elected as Governor of North Carolina, succeeding Governor J. Melville Broughton. As governor his major achievements were to expand resources for mental health care, public schools and road paving. After serving one term that ended in 1949, he retired to the private practice of law in Gastonia. He remained active in his law practice and numerous fraternal organizations until his death.
Bio by: Richard Jordan
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