Governor of West Viginia. He attended Washington and Lee University, received a law degree from the University of Alabama in 1927, and became an attorney, first in Alabama, and then in West Virginia. He served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1931 to 1933, and was Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney from 1933 to 1937. In 1936 he was elected state Attorney General, serving from 1937 until he resigned in 1942 to accept appointment as a West Virginia Circuit Court Judge. In 1944 he was the successful Democratic nominee for Governor, serving from 1945 to 1949. During his term the state established the position of Insurance Commissioner and created the Turnpike Commission and the Department of Motor Vehicles. Serving immediately after World War II, Meadows also used a state budget surplus to fund education and construction programs that were deferred during the war and the Great Depression. Prohibited by law from running for reelection, Meadows resumed practicing law, also becoming active in the radio and oil and natural gas businesses. In 1948 and 1952 he was a Delegate to the Democratic national convention. In 1953 he moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and in 1958 he served as campaign manager for Claude Pepper, who was seeking to return to the US Senate. He later moved to Clifton Forge, Virginia, and died at Chesapeake and Ohio Hospital following treatment after a heart attack.
Governor of West Viginia. He attended Washington and Lee University, received a law degree from the University of Alabama in 1927, and became an attorney, first in Alabama, and then in West Virginia. He served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1931 to 1933, and was Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney from 1933 to 1937. In 1936 he was elected state Attorney General, serving from 1937 until he resigned in 1942 to accept appointment as a West Virginia Circuit Court Judge. In 1944 he was the successful Democratic nominee for Governor, serving from 1945 to 1949. During his term the state established the position of Insurance Commissioner and created the Turnpike Commission and the Department of Motor Vehicles. Serving immediately after World War II, Meadows also used a state budget surplus to fund education and construction programs that were deferred during the war and the Great Depression. Prohibited by law from running for reelection, Meadows resumed practicing law, also becoming active in the radio and oil and natural gas businesses. In 1948 and 1952 he was a Delegate to the Democratic national convention. In 1953 he moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and in 1958 he served as campaign manager for Claude Pepper, who was seeking to return to the US Senate. He later moved to Clifton Forge, Virginia, and died at Chesapeake and Ohio Hospital following treatment after a heart attack.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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