Henry L. Bridges

Henry Lee Bridges (June 10, 1907 – April 6, 2002) was an American lawyer and politician. A Democrat, he served as the Auditor of North Carolina from 1947 to 1981.

Early life Henry Bridges was born on June 10, 1907, to John Joseph Bridges and Ida Carroll in Franklin County, North Carolina, United States. He was the youngest of 12 children. After his parents died, Bridges worked on a cousin's farm in Wake County.

On December 12, 1936, Bridges married Clarice Ramsey Hines. They had two children. He took up amateur filmmaking as a hobby in 1938.

Political career Bridges was a member of the Democratic Party. From 1933 to 1940 he served as a secretary and treasurer of the Guilford County Democratic Executive Committee. He worked as a deputy clerk at the Superior Court of Guilford County at various times from August 1935 until June 1, 1946, with his active duty military service occurring in the intervening periods. He resigned on June 1, 1946, to engage in private law practice. In 1974 the North Carolina General Assembly, at his request, authorized the creation of an operational audit program. Bridges decided not to run for reelection in 1980