James Holshouser
Encyclopedia
James Eubert Holshouser, Jr. (born October 8, 1934) was the 68th Governor
of the state of North Carolina
from 1973 to 1977. He was born in Boone, North Carolina
.
Holshouser was trained as an attorney and served several terms representing Watauga County, NC in the North Carolina General Assembly
. He also chaired the state Republican Party before becoming North Carolina's first Republican governor elected since 1896, narrowly defeating Skipper Bowles
. At age 38, he was also the state's youngest governor since the nineteenth century. Many Republicans disliked Holshouser's moderate stances on issues. The governor supported Gerald Ford
for president in 1976, while Republican U.S. Senator Jesse Helms
supported Ronald Reagan
. When Reagan won the North Carolina presidential preference primary of 1976, the Republican state convention refused to appoint Holshouser as a delegate to the Republican National Convention
.
His accomplishments in office include consolidation of the University of North Carolina
system under a Board of Governors, capital improvement funding for the community college system
, statewide enrollment for kindergarten and establishment of health clinics in rural areas not served by local physicians. After leaving office, he returned to the practice of law, and was elected to the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina, where he still serves as member emeritus. http://www.governor.state.nc.us/News/PressReleases/Default.asp He has also served on the Board of St. Andrews Presbyterian College
in Laurinburg, NC.
Holshouser eventually became great friends with Democratic Governor Jim Hunt
, who had served as Lieutenant Governor while Holshouser was in office. Holshouser was the last governor who was not eligible for a second four-year term; Hunt was elected in 1976 to succeed him. They serve together on the North Carolina Advisory Board of DonorsChoose
. Holshouser recently campaigned for state-funded judicial elections. Holshouser Hall, a residence hall at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
is named in his honor, as is the stretch of US 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock.
He was honored with the North Carolina Award
in 2006. http://www.wral.com/goodnews/10277284/detail.html
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
of the state of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
from 1973 to 1977. He was born in Boone, North Carolina
Boone, North Carolina
Boone is a town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, United States. Boone's population was reported as 17,122, as of 2010...
.
Holshouser was trained as an attorney and served several terms representing Watauga County, NC in the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
. He also chaired the state Republican Party before becoming North Carolina's first Republican governor elected since 1896, narrowly defeating Skipper Bowles
Skipper Bowles
Hargrove "Skipper" Bowles, Jr. was an influential Democratic politician and businessman, based in Greensboro, North Carolina....
. At age 38, he was also the state's youngest governor since the nineteenth century. Many Republicans disliked Holshouser's moderate stances on issues. The governor supported Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
for president in 1976, while Republican U.S. Senator Jesse Helms
Jesse Helms
Jesse Alexander Helms, Jr. was a five-term Republican United States Senator from North Carolina who served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 1995 to 2001...
supported Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
. When Reagan won the North Carolina presidential preference primary of 1976, the Republican state convention refused to appoint Holshouser as a delegate to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
.
His accomplishments in office include consolidation of the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
system under a Board of Governors, capital improvement funding for the community college system
North Carolina Community College System
The North Carolina Community College System is a statewide network of fifty-eight public community colleges. Each college has a distinct governance system and policies. In total, the system enrolls over 800,000 students, and is the third largest community college system in the nation...
, statewide enrollment for kindergarten and establishment of health clinics in rural areas not served by local physicians. After leaving office, he returned to the practice of law, and was elected to the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina, where he still serves as member emeritus. http://www.governor.state.nc.us/News/PressReleases/Default.asp He has also served on the Board of St. Andrews Presbyterian College
St. Andrews Presbyterian College
St. Andrews University, formerly St. Andrews Presbyterian College, is a private, Presbyterian, four-year liberal arts college in Laurinburg, North Carolina....
in Laurinburg, NC.
Holshouser eventually became great friends with Democratic Governor Jim Hunt
Jim Hunt
James Baxter Hunt Jr. is an American politician who was the 69th and 71st Governor of the state of North Carolina . He is the longest-serving governor in the state's history.-Early life:...
, who had served as Lieutenant Governor while Holshouser was in office. Holshouser was the last governor who was not eligible for a second four-year term; Hunt was elected in 1976 to succeed him. They serve together on the North Carolina Advisory Board of DonorsChoose
DonorsChoose
DonorsChoose.org is a United States based nonprofit organization that provides a way for people to donate directly to specific projects at public schools ....
. Holshouser recently campaigned for state-funded judicial elections. Holshouser Hall, a residence hall at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte , also known as UNC Charlotte or simply Charlotte, is a public research university located in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States...
is named in his honor, as is the stretch of US 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock.
He was honored with the North Carolina Award
North Carolina Award
The North Carolina Award is the highest civilian award bestowed by the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is awarded in the four fields of science, literature, the fine arts, and public service....
in 2006. http://www.wral.com/goodnews/10277284/detail.html
External links
- Biographical Timeline
- Oral History Interviews with James E. Holshouser Jr. http://docsouth.unc.edu/sohp/C-0328-1/, http://docsouth.unc.edu/sohp/C-0328-2/, http://docsouth.unc.edu/sohp/C-0328-3/, http://docsouth.unc.edu/sohp/C-0328-4/ from Oral Histories of the American South