Thad A. Eure

Thaddeus Armie Eure (November 15, 1899 – July 21, 1993) was an American politician who holds the record for longest tenure as an elected official in the United States, serving as North Carolina Secretary of State from 1936 to 1989.

Early life

Born in Gates County, North Carolina, Eure was the son of Tazewell Augustus Eure and Armecia Langston Eure. A farmer, Tazewell Eure was in the first graduating class at North Carolina Agricultural and Mechanical College (now North Carolina State University) and served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1925–1927.

He was the oldest of five Eure children. He grew up on an 80-acre farm that grew cotton, corn, and peanuts. He graduated valedictorian from the now-closed Gatesville High School in 1917.

He attended the University of North Carolina where he was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity. He left UNC to serve in the Army during World War I, returning to Chapel Hill, North Carolina to attend the University of North Carolina Law School, graduating in 1922.

Personal life

Eure married Minta Banks on November 15, 1924. They had two children, Thad Eure, Jr. and Armecia Eure Black.

Eure died of complications of gallbladder surgery in 1993. His body lay in state at the North Carolina State Capitol. He was buried in Historic Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh, North Carolina. Known for wearing bow ties January 6, 1989 was declared "Red Bow Tie Day" in North Carolina to honor Eure and his service.

Eure's trademarks were his bow ties and always signing in green ink.