James Hubert Price

James Hubert Price (September 7, 1878 – November 22, 1943) was an American politician who was elected 53rd Governor of Virginia in 1937, during the Great Depression and became known as the Commonwealth's "New Deal Governor." Over the opposition of the Byrd Organization, Price, a Virginia attorney and businessman, passed many social programs and implemented other federal programs to benefit Virginians. Price had previously represented Richmond as one of its delegates in the Virginia House of Delegates for over a decade (1916–1930), as well as served as Lieutenant Governor for two terms beginning in 1930.

Early and family life

Price was born near Organ Cave in Greenbrier County, West Virginia to Charles William Price and Nancy C. Boone, both of Lewisburg, West Virginia. His parents moved to Staunton, Virginia, where he was raised and where his closest relatives lived by the time World War I began. Price attended and received a business degree from Dunsmore Business College in 1898. He then taught accounting at the college and established his own accounting practice. In 1907 he began legal studies at the Washington and Lee Law School and graduated in 1909.

On October 2, 1918, about a month after the 37-year-old registered for the draft (having become a legal adviser to local draft boards), he married Lilian Martin in Washington, D.C. They had two children: James Price (1920–1991) and Lillian Price Eberle (1925–2016). Price was very active in the Freemasons and Shriners fraternal organizations, serving as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Virginia Masons (1922 to 1924) and as Imperial Recorder for the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America from 1927 until his death. He became the Democratic candidate and won 82.78% of the vote. He defeated Republican candidate John Powell Royall (a former State Senator), as well as Communist Donald Burke, and Prohibitionist James A. Edgerton.

As governor, Price secured the support of anti-Byrd forces including Francis Pickens Miller in the 1938 session in order to pass social legislation in the Virginia General Assembly. He also created public works projects (including a new buildings for the Library of Virginia, Virginia Supreme Court, and the Medical College of Virginia), implemented the Social Security Act, solicited federal funds for urban development, and advocated the inclusion of African Americans in the U.S. military, as well as prepared Virginia for what became World War II. Price also helped rename two of the state's teachers' colleges Mary Washington University and James Madison University. Various labor measures were also advocated by Price during his time as governor.

Price fired top Byrd lieutenant Everett R. Combs as state Comptroller and chairman of the Compensation board, incurring Byrd's wrath. While historian Douglas Southall Freeman labeled Price's 1940 legislative agenda one of the best on record, the Byrd Organization refused to pass such legislation until 1942, as Price left office due to the single term limit in the state Constitution and was succeeded by Colgate Darden.

Death and legacy

After his governorship ended, Price continued active with the Shriners as well as sold war bonds, but suffered a stroke about a year later. He died in Richmond on November 22, 1943. He (and four months later his wife Lilian) was buried at Staunton's Thornrose Cemetery.

Electoral history

Date Election Candidate Party Votes % Lieutenant Governor of Virginia Nov 5, 1929 General James H. Price Democratic 184,563 64.01 Callom B. Jones Republican 103,758 35.99 Junius E. West did not seek reelection; seat stayed Democratic Nov 7, 1933 General James H. Price (inc.) Democratic 127,135 75.73 J. Powell Royall Republican 37,770 22.50 J. Luther Kibler Socialist 2,971 1.77 Governor of Virginia Nov 2, 1937 General James H. Price Democratic 124,145 82.78 J. Powell Royall Republican 23,670 15.78 Donald Burke Communist 1,164 0.78 James A. Edgerton Prohibition 990 0.66 George C. Peery unable to seek reelection; seat stayed Democratic