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 grew up in Lexington, North Carolina. Following the completion of his education, he rose to become president and chairman of the board of the United Furniture Corporation. He held several local political offices before being elected to a seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives in 1953 as a Democrat.

During his tenure he served on the Pearsall Committee and played a key role in the passage of a state minimum wage law. He left the House in 1959 and in 1960 was elected Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina. In his short time in the latter office, 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.

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, Cloyd's father purchased a bankrupt furniture factory in Lexington, North Carolina, and moved the family there, He graduated in 1929.

On June 11, 1931, Philpott married Frances Adelaide Thompson. They had three children. The following year the company, under his direction, launched a new subsidiary, Philpott Furniture Corporation, of which he also became president. He worked one term as president of the Southern Furniture Manufacturer's Association. He also was on the board of directors of the Commercial Bank of Lexington and the Mutual Savings and Loan Association in Lexington. Although many conservatives and businessmen were opposed to the measure, Philpott's support helped ensure that a minimum wage statute was adopted. but vacated his House seat later that year.

Lieutenant governor On January 29, 1960, Philpott declared his candidacy for the office of Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina. In his announcement he declared that he would seek to raise the average income of state residents to match the national earnings average. 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. The two became friends over the course of their respective bids, and Philpott endorsed Sanford's plans to increase spending on public education. Philpott enjoyed the tacit support of Sanford's campaign manager, Bert Bennett, and the retiring governor Hodges. In the Democratic primary election he faced C. V. Henkel. He earned 238,353 votes to Henkel's 175,150, thus securing the Democratic nomination. In the general election he faced Republican S. Clyde Eggers. He won 765,519 votes to his opponent's 532,445 votes. Sanford also won his election and became governor. The two were sworn in on January 5, 1961.

As lieutenant governor, Philpott had the responsibility of making committee appointments in the North Carolina Senate and had considerable influence over the body's workflow. Instead of honoring the tradition of awarding committee chairs to senators with seniority, he appointed first-term Senator Thomas Jackson White—his friend—as Chairman of the Committee on Finance. The 1961 session of the General Assembly had the responsibility of redrawing Congressional districts throughout the state in wake of the 1960 United States census. Philpott made an agreement with presumptive with Speaker of the State House of Representatives Joseph M. Hunt Jr. before the opening of the session to appoint special committees to draft relevant bills on the matter in each respective house. Contrary to precedent, the committees consisted of 12 Democrats each with no Republicans represented.

Philpott acted as Sanford's main ally in the Senate, and Sanford later credited him with helping to convince the General Assembly to raise taxes to increase education funding. He hoped to support Philpott in a bid to succeed him as governor in 1964. Philpott went on a trip to Hawaii during the last week of the 1961 legislative session, leaving the responsibility of presiding over the Senate to the president pro tempore. and Philpott was subsequently buried in Forest Hill Memorial Park. Philpott was the first Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina to die in office during the 20th century, and his death left the office vacant until the election of 1964, as there was no constitutional mechanism to fill the vacancy. His death also prompted questions and debates concerning the gubernatorial order of succession, as it became unclear who would hypothetically assume the governor's office if the Governor of North Carolina died while there was no sitting lieutenant governor. State Senator T. Clarence Stone assumed the responsibility of presiding over the Senate. Philpott's family and friends established a scholarship fund in his name for aspiring Davidson County college students.