Richard Thurmond Chatham
Encyclopedia
Richard Thurmond Chatham (born Elkin, North Carolina
1896-1957), who usually went by Thurmond Chatham, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, an industrialist and philanthropist
. He represented North Carolina from 1949 to 1957.
. Chatham was educated in the public schools and at Woodberry Forest School
in Orange, Virginia
. He attended the University of North Carolina
from 1915-1916 and Yale University
from 1916-1917, but left college to enter the United States Navy
. He served in the Navy until 1919.
From 1942 to 1945, Chatham served in the U.S. Navy with the Bureau of Ordnance
and the office of the secretary of the Navy. He attained the rank of commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve and was awarded the Bronze Star
, the secretary of the Navy's Commendation Medal, and the Royal Order of Orange-Nassau
with Swords from the Dutch government.
, Chatham was unsuccessful in his 1946 bid for the Democratic nomination for Congress. He was first elected in 1948 and re-elected three more times.
While in Congress, he was a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and was an advocate of recognition of China
and support for the Marshall Plan.
Notably, he did not sign the Southern Manifesto
in 1956. As a result, Chatham lost the Democratic Party primary to Ralph James Scott
.
served on the North Carolina Board of Conservation and Development and was president of the North Carolina Dairymen's Association.
and was buried in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
. His estate was valued at almost $2,000,000, of which $250,000 was used to establish the Chatham Foundation, a charitable trust supporting education.
Elkin, North Carolina
Elkin is a town in Surry and Wilkes counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina, along the Yadkin River. Elkin shares its name with the surrounding township of Elkin Township...
1896-1957), who usually went by Thurmond Chatham, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, an industrialist and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. He represented North Carolina from 1949 to 1957.
Early years
Chatham was the only son of Hugh Gwyn and Martha Lenoir Chatham. His grandfather was Alexander Chatham, founder of Chatham Manufacturing CompanyChatham Manufacturing Company
Chatham Manufacturing Company is a textile mill in located in Elkin, North Carolina and is one of the oldest in North Carolina.-History:...
. Chatham was educated in the public schools and at Woodberry Forest School
Woodberry Forest School
Woodberry Forest School is a private, all-male boarding school located in Woodberry Forest, Madison County, Virginia, in the United States. Woodberry's current enrollment is 402. Students come from 28 U.S...
in Orange, Virginia
Orange, Virginia
Orange is a town in Orange County, Virginia, United States. The population was 4,721 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Orange County...
. He attended the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
from 1915-1916 and Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
from 1916-1917, but left college to enter the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. He served in the Navy until 1919.
Career
In July 1919, Chatham began working for his family's company, Chatham Manufacturing, which was the world's largest manufacturer of blankets. After serving as treasurer of the company, he became president in 1929 and chairman of the board of directors in 1945. During his presidency, the company experienced considerable growth.From 1942 to 1945, Chatham served in the U.S. Navy with the Bureau of Ordnance
Bureau of Ordnance
The Bureau of Ordnance was the U.S. Navy's organization responsible for the procurement, storage, and deployment of all naval ordnance, between the years 1862 and 1959.-History:...
and the office of the secretary of the Navy. He attained the rank of commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve and was awarded the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
, the secretary of the Navy's Commendation Medal, and the Royal Order of Orange-Nassau
Order of Orange-Nassau
The Order of Orange-Nassau is a military and civil order of the Netherlands which was created on 4 April 1892 by the Queen regent Emma of the Netherlands, acting on behalf of her under-age daughter Queen Wilhelmina. The Order is a chivalry order open to "everyone who have earned special merits for...
with Swords from the Dutch government.
Political life
With his only previous political experience as a county commissioner in Forsyth County, North CarolinaForsyth County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 306,067 people, 123,851 households, and 81,741 families residing in the county. The population density was 747 people per square mile . There were 133,093 housing units at an average density of 325 per square mile...
, Chatham was unsuccessful in his 1946 bid for the Democratic nomination for Congress. He was first elected in 1948 and re-elected three more times.
While in Congress, he was a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and was an advocate of recognition of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and support for the Marshall Plan.
Notably, he did not sign the Southern Manifesto
Southern Manifesto
The Southern Manifesto was a document written February–March 1956 by Adisen and Charles in the United States Congress opposed to racial integration in public places. The manifesto was signed by 101 politicians from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South...
in 1956. As a result, Chatham lost the Democratic Party primary to Ralph James Scott
Ralph James Scott
Ralph James Scott was a Democratic U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1957 and 1967.Born near Pinnacle, North Carolina in Surry County, Scott attended public schools and then Wake Forest University, where he studied law...
.
Later years
Chatham was a trustee of the University of North Carolina and of Woodberry Forest School; president of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce; and a member of the National Association of Wool Manufacturers, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In 1948, heserved on the North Carolina Board of Conservation and Development and was president of the North Carolina Dairymen's Association.
Family life
Chatham married Lucy Hodgin Hanes in 1919 and had two sons, Hugh Gwyn II and Richard Thurmond, Jr. After Lucy died, Chatham married Patricia Firestone Coyner in 1950. The couple had one son, Walter Firestone, born in 1952. Chatham died in Durham, North CarolinaDurham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
and was buried in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
. His estate was valued at almost $2,000,000, of which $250,000 was used to establish the Chatham Foundation, a charitable trust supporting education.
External links
- Congressional Biography
- Inventory of the Richard Thurmond Chatham Papers, in the Southern Historical Collection, UNC-Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
.