Cecil F. White

Cecil Fielding White (December 12, 1900 – March 29, 1992) was an American farmer, World War I veteran, and politician. As a Democrat, White served as the U.S. representative for California's 9th congressional district for one term, from 1949 to 1951. White was a cotton broker and owned his own ranch before getting into politics at the age of 47, and defeating seven-term incumbent Republican Bertrand W. Gearhart.

Background White was born in Temple, Texas, on December 12, 1900, the son of James Bernard and Massie (née Bedford) White. His family moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where White grew up and went through the city's public schooling system.

Military service At the age of sixteen, he joined the Arkansas Army National Guard and served on the border with Mexico during the Pancho Villa Expedition.

During World War I, White fought in France as a sergeant in the 142nd Field Artillery Regiment,

Politics As a 47-year-old cotton rancher, White ran for the United States House of Representatives seat in California's 9th congressional district. He faced seven-term Republican incumbent Bertrand W. Gearhart in the election. Gearhart had faced one Democratic challenger in his six previous re-election bids. White defeated Gearhart after capturing a 51.3% majority with a margin of victory of more than 6,000 votes. White was challenged in 1950 by Republican Allan O. Hunter. Hunter defeated White, 52.0% to 48%. After leaving Congress White returned to his cotton growing business.

White again ran for a seat in the House of Representatives in 1966, this time as the Republican nominee for California's 16th congressional district. Democratic incumbent Bernice F. Sisk defeated White in a lopsided 71.3%–28.6% election.

Electoral history