William B. Umstead
William Bradley Umstead (May 13, 1895 – November 7, 1954) was an American politician who served as a United States Senator and the 63rd Governor of North Carolina from 1953 to 1954.
William Bradley Umstead | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States senator from North Carolina | |
| In office December 18, 1946 – December 30, 1948 | |
| Appointed by | R. Gregg Cherry |
| Preceded by | Josiah Bailey |
| Succeeded by | J. Melville Broughton |
| 63rd Governor of North Carolina | |
| In office January 8, 1953 – November 7, 1954 | |
| Lieutenant | Luther H. Hodges |
| Preceded by | W. Kerr Scott |
| Succeeded by | Luther H. Hodges |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 6th district | |
| In office March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1939 | |
| Preceded by | J. Bayard Clark |
| Succeeded by | Carl T. Durham |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 13, 1895 Mangum Township, Durham County, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | November 7, 1954 (aged 59) Durham, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Resting place | Mount Tabor Church Cemetery Durham, North Carolina |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Trinity College |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | .svg.png){kind=small} |
| Branch/service |  |
| Years of service | 1917–1918 |
| Rank |  |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
Early life and education
Umstead was born in the northern Durham County town of Bahama in 1895. In 1916, he earned a bachelor's degree in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of the Philanthropic Society.
Career
Umstead taught high school history for approximately one school year before joining the army after the U.S. entry into World War I. He served as an officer and saw combat in France; Umstead was discharged in 1919 as a first lieutenant. He later entered law school at Trinity College (now Duke University). Umstead was a prosecutor for most of his legal career and served as the elected solicitor (today called district attorney) for a five-county district from 1927 to 1933.
He served from 1933 to 1939 in the United States House of Representatives, choosing not to seek re-election in 1938. Umstead was chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party for several years until he was appointed to fill a vacant United States Senate seat in 1946. Defeated for a Senate term of his own in 1948, Umstead ran for governor in 1952 and won. However, on 10 January 1953, only two days after his inauguration, Umstead was crippled by a heart attack.
In June, 1954, Umstead appointed Sam Ervin to fill the U.S. Senate seat of Clyde Hoey, who had died in office.
Death
Umstead was constantly in ill health until his death nearly two years after his 1953 heart attack, upon which he was succeeded as governor by Luther H. Hodges.[1] Umstead is buried in the Mount Tabor Church Cemetery in Durham, North Carolina.
William B. Umstead State Park in Raleigh, North Carolina was named in his honor in 1966.[2]
References
- Warner, Seth. "Governor William Bradley Umstead".
- "History of William B. Umstead State Park". N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.
External links
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by W. Kerr Scott |
Democratic nominee for Governor of North Carolina 1952 |
Succeeded by Luther H. Hodges |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by J. Bayard Clark |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 6th congressional district March 4, 1933-January 3, 1939 |
Succeeded by Carl T. Durham |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by Josiah William Bailey |
U.S. senator (Class 2) from North Carolina December 18, 1946– December 30, 1948 Served alongside: Clyde Roark Hoey |
Succeeded by Joseph Melville Broughton |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by W. Kerr Scott |
Governor of North Carolina January 8, 1953– November 7, 1954 |
Succeeded by Luther H. Hodges |
| Class 2 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 3 | ||
Authority control  |
|
|---|