Woodrow W. Jones
Encyclopedia
Woodrow Wilson Jones was a United States Representative
and a federal judge from North Carolina
. He was born in Green Hill Township, Rutherford County, North Carolina
and attended the public schools of Rutherford County. He graduated from Mars Hill College
in Mars Hill
, NC in 1934 and graduated from Wake Forest University
Law School, Wake Forest, North Carolina
, in 1937. After being admitted to the bar, Jones practiced law and served as city attorney for Rutherfordton from 1940 to 1943 and was a prosecuting attorney of Rutherford County, in the Recorder’s Court, from 1941 to 1943. After returning from three years in the United States Navy
during World War II
, he was elected as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
in 1946 and served two years.
to the 81st Congress
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Representative Alfred L. Bulwinkle
. On the same date in 1950 he was elected in both the special election to fill out Bulwinkle's term and to a full term of his own. He was reelected in 1952 and in 1954, serving from November 7, 1950 – January 3, 1957. Jones was not a candidate for renomination to the 85th Congress in 1956. He was a delegate to all Democratic State Conventions from 1940 to 1960, and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
in 1960. He was the chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party
Executive Committee from 1958 to 1960 and was appointed by Governor Luther Hodges as a member of the state constitution commission, on which he served from 1958 to 1960.
Jones was appointed by President
Lyndon B. Johnson
as a judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
and served from 1967 to 1985, when he took senior status
. He was chief judge for much of his active service (1968–1984). He retired to Rutherfordton where he died in 2002 and was buried in Rutherfordton City Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and a federal judge from 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...
. He was born in Green Hill Township, Rutherford County, North Carolina
Rutherford County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,899 people, 25,191 households, and 17,935 families residing in the county. The population density was 112 people per square mile . There were 29,535 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
and attended the public schools of Rutherford County. He graduated from Mars Hill College
Mars Hill College
Mars Hill College is a private, coed, liberal-arts college affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. The college is located in the small town of Mars Hill, North Carolina, due north of Asheville, western North Carolina's largest city...
in Mars Hill
Mars Hill, North Carolina
Mars Hill is a town in Madison County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,764 at the 2000 census. It is the home of Mars Hill College, which is named after the town. The town is located approximately one mile west of Interstate 26, and due north of Asheville, western North...
, NC in 1934 and graduated from Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
Law School, Wake Forest, North Carolina
Wake Forest, North Carolina
Wake Forest is a town and suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina in Wake County in the U.S. state of North Carolina and is located just north of the state capital, Raleigh. The population was 12,588 at the 2000 census. In 2009, the estimated population was 27,915...
, in 1937. After being admitted to the bar, Jones practiced law and served as city attorney for Rutherfordton from 1940 to 1943 and was a prosecuting attorney of Rutherford County, in the Recorder’s Court, from 1941 to 1943. After returning from three years in 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...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was elected as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
in 1946 and served two years.
Congressional and Judicial career
Jones was elected in 1950 as a DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the 81st Congress
81st United States Congress
The Eighty-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives...
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Representative Alfred L. Bulwinkle
Alfred L. Bulwinkle
Alfred Lee Bulwinkle was a U.S. Representative from North Carolina.Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Bulwinkle moved with his parents to Dallas, North Carolina, in 1891.He attended the common schools....
. On the same date in 1950 he was elected in both the special election to fill out Bulwinkle's term and to a full term of his own. He was reelected in 1952 and in 1954, serving from November 7, 1950 – January 3, 1957. Jones was not a candidate for renomination to the 85th Congress in 1956. He was a delegate to all Democratic State Conventions from 1940 to 1960, and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in 1960. He was the chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party
North Carolina Democratic Party
The North Carolina Democratic Party is the North Carolina affiliate of the national Democratic Party in the United States. It is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. They are located in the historic Goodwin house which is located in the downtown area of Raleigh at 220 Hillsborough Street...
Executive Committee from 1958 to 1960 and was appointed by Governor Luther Hodges as a member of the state constitution commission, on which he served from 1958 to 1960.
Jones was appointed by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
as a judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
The United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina is a Federal district court which covers the western third of North Carolina....
and served from 1967 to 1985, when he took senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
. He was chief judge for much of his active service (1968–1984). He retired to Rutherfordton where he died in 2002 and was buried in Rutherfordton City Cemetery.