Harvey Cloyd Philpott

Harvey Cloyd Philpott (April 6, 1909 – August 19, 1961) was an American businessman and politician who served as the 24th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina in 1961. Philpott, a onetime member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, was elected as a Democrat to a four-year term as Lieutenant Governor in 1960, assuming office the following year. In his short time in office, Cloyd Philpott was a key ally in the legislature for Governor Terry Sanford. Sanford originally wished that Philpott would succeed him as governor, but this was cut short by Philpott's sudden death eight months into his term.

Harvey Cloyd Philpott
24th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
In office
January 5, 1961 – August 19, 1961
GovernorTerry Sanford
Preceded byLuther E. Barnhardt
Succeeded byRobert W. Scott
Personal details
BornApril 6, 1909 (1909-04-06)
Bassett, Virginia, United States
DiedAugust 19, 1961 (1961-08-20) (aged 52)
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States

Early life

Harvey Cloyd Philpott was born on April 6, 1909 in Bassett, Virginia, United States to Benjamin Cabell Philpott Sr. and Daisy Hundley Philpott. In 1920 Harvey's father purchased a bankrupt furniture factory in Lexington, North Carolina and moved the family there.[1] Harvey attended Lexington High School from 1921 until 1925.[2] Thereafter he attended Eastman Business College and the Virginia Military Institute.[1] While he was at the latter institution, he served as a cadet captain of Company C, edited the school newspaper and served as president of the North Carolina Club.[3] He graduated in 1929.[1]

On June 11, 1931 Philpott married Frances Adelaide Thompson.[2] They had three children.[1] He served as a captain in the Lexington Company of the North Carolina State Guard from 1941 to 1946.[2]

Business career

While he was a high school student, Philpott worked in his father's furniture business. After completing his education, he entered the furniture business, and eventually rose to become president and chairman of the board of the United Furniture Corporation and of the Philpott Furniture Corporation of Lexington. He served one term as president of the Southern Furniture Manufacturer's Association. In 1956 the American Furniture Mart declared him "Furniture Man of the Year". He also served on the board of directors of the Commercial Bank of Lexington and the Mutual Savings and Loan Association in Lexington.[1]

Political career

In 1934 Philpott was elected to the Lexington School Board. He later attributed his involvement in the body to spurring his interest in politics. He served on the board until 1945, acting as chairman for the last two years. In 1945 he was elected Mayor of Lexington. He held the office for four years, and thereafter served on the Lexington Utilities Committee until 1956.[1]

In 1953 Philpott was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives.[1] In 1957 he urged the legislature to adopt a state minimum wage law, arguing that the previous adoption of a federal minimum wage law had spurred economic growth in the American South.[4] Though many conservatives and businessmen were opposed to the measure, Philpott's support helped ensure that a minimum wage statute was adopted.[1]

In 1960 Philpott ran for the office of Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina.[5] Terry Sanford, who was launching a candidacy to become Governor of North Carolina, had considered making Philpott his campaign manager until Philpott announced his own bid for office. Philpott endorsed Sanford's plans to increase spending on public education.[6] In the Democratic primary election he faced David M. McConnell. He earned 238,353 votes to McConnell's 175,150, thus securing the Democratic nomination.[5] In the general election he faced Republican S. Clyde Eggers. He won 765,519 votes to his opponent's 532,445 votes.[7] Sanford also won his election and became Governor. Philpott acted as his main ally in the North Carolina Senate.[8]

As Lieutenant Governor, Philpott had the responsibility of making committee appointments in the Senate. Instead of honoring the tradition of always giving committee chairs to senators with seniority, he appointed first-term Senator Thomas Jackson White—his friend—as Chairman of the Committee on Finance.[9] Sanford hoped to support Philpott in a bid to succeed him as Governor in 1964.[10]

Death

On the morning of August 16, 1961 at his home near High Rock Lake, Philpott became stricken by severe chest and abdominal pains.[11] He walked to a neighboring doctor's cabin, and the doctor called for an ambulance which transported him to N.C. Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem.[3] Doctors later determined that he was suffering from aortic dissection. He died at 5:45 PM on August 19 at the hospital. A funeral was held on August 21 in Lexington at the First Baptist Church[11] and Philpott was subsequently buried in Forest Hill Memorial Park.[1] His death left the office of Lieutenant Governor vacant pending the election of a new person to the position in 1964, as there was no constitutional mechanism to fill the vacancy.[12] State Senator Clarence Stone assumed the responsibility of presiding over the Senate.[13] His family and friends established a scholarship fund in his name for aspiring Davidson County college students.[14][15]

References
  1. Wright, David Calep, III (1994). "Philpott, Harvey Cloyd". NCPedia. NC Government & Heritage Library. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  2. North Carolina Manual 1961, p. 398.
  3. Doss-Raines, Jill (August 18, 2001). "Has Art". The Dispatch. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  4. "Minimum Wage Bill Is Defended". The Daily Times-News. May 10, 1957. p. 1.
  5. North Carolina Manual 1961, p. 236.
  6. Covington & Ellis 1999, pp. 249–250.
  7. North Carolina Manual 1961, p. 241.
  8. Covington & Ellis 1999, pp. 248–249.
  9. Covington & Ellis 1999, p. 249.
  10. Covington & Ellis 1999, pp. 267, 269.
  11. "Last Rites Set Today For Lt. Gov Philpott". The Daily Times-News. 78 (95). Associated Press. August 21, 1961. p. 1.
  12. "Public Election Of Lt. Governor Comes In '64". The Daily Times-News. September 21, 1961. p. 24.
  13. Christensen 2010, p. 197.
  14. Stephens, Cinde (October 12, 1992). "Scholarship Fund Spreads Net". News & Record. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  15. "Student Support & Program/Services Enrichment". DCCC. Davidson County Community College. Retrieved July 19, 2020.

Works cited
  • Christensen, Rob (2010). The Paradox of Tar Heel Politics : The Personalities, Elections, and Events That Shaped Modern North Carolina (second ed.). Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 978-0-8078-7151-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Covington, Howard E., Jr; Ellis, Marion A. (1999). Terry Sanford: Politics, Progress, and Outrageous Ambitions. Durham: Duke University Press. ISBN 9780822323563.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • North Carolina Manual. Raleigh: North Carolina Secretary of State. 1961. OCLC 244106586.
Political offices
Preceded by
Luther E. Barnhardt		 Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
1961		 Succeeded by
Robert W. Scott
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