John C. West
Encyclopedia
John Carl West was a U.S. Democratic Party
politician who served as the 109th Governor of South Carolina
from 1971 to 1975. He served as ambassador to Saudi Arabia
from 1977 to 1981.
and grew up in the Kershaw County, South Carolina farming community of Charlotte Thompson. The following May, his father, along with seventy-six other persons, was killed in a fire at the nearby Cleveland School. His mother and maternal grandmother escaped unharmed from the fire. In 1942, he married his childhood sweetheart, Lois Rhame. The couple had three children, a daughter and two sons, Shelton, Douglas, and John, Jr. That same year, he graduated from The Citadel
, and was enlisted in the United States Army
as an intelligence
officer during World War II, assigned to stateside service.
in 1946. From 1948 to 1952, he served on the state Highway Commission. In 1954, he coordinated the unsuccessful U.S. Senate candidacy of Edgar A. Brown. He served in the state senate from 1954 to 1966. During his tenure in the state senate, he served on several committees which studied public school curriculum, investigated Communist party
activities, studied the state Development Board, studied state support for the nursing profession, studied state support for junior college
s, and recommended revisions to the state constitution
.
He served as Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina from 1966 to 1970. In the 1970 gubernatorial election
, West defeated U.S. Congressman Albert Watson, a former Democrat, carrying 53.2% of the vote. Following his tenure as Governor, he returned to private law practice and served as United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1977 to 1981. After returning to the United States, he became a Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of South Carolina
. From 1993 until his death from cancer, he was a Partner in the Hilton Head, South Carolina law office of Bethea, Jordan, and Griffin.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician who served as the 109th Governor of South Carolina
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
from 1971 to 1975. He served as ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
from 1977 to 1981.
Early life
He was born in Camden, South CarolinaCamden, South Carolina
Camden is the fourth oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and is also the county seat of Kershaw County, South Carolina, United States. The population was an estimated 7,103 in 2009...
and grew up in the Kershaw County, South Carolina farming community of Charlotte Thompson. The following May, his father, along with seventy-six other persons, was killed in a fire at the nearby Cleveland School. His mother and maternal grandmother escaped unharmed from the fire. In 1942, he married his childhood sweetheart, Lois Rhame. The couple had three children, a daughter and two sons, Shelton, Douglas, and John, Jr. That same year, he graduated from The Citadel
The Citadel (military college)
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, also known simply as The Citadel, is a state-supported, comprehensive college located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the six senior military colleges in the United States...
, and was enlisted in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
as an intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
officer during World War II, assigned to stateside service.
Political career
Following the war, he earned a law degree from the University of South CarolinaUniversity of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
in 1946. From 1948 to 1952, he served on the state Highway Commission. In 1954, he coordinated the unsuccessful U.S. Senate candidacy of Edgar A. Brown. He served in the state senate from 1954 to 1966. During his tenure in the state senate, he served on several committees which studied public school curriculum, investigated Communist party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
activities, studied the state Development Board, studied state support for the nursing profession, studied state support for junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
s, and recommended revisions to the state constitution
South Carolina Constitution
The Constitution of the State of South Carolina is the governing document of the U.S. state of South Carolina. It describes the structure and function of the state's government. The current constitution took effect on December 4, 1895...
.
He served as Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina from 1966 to 1970. In the 1970 gubernatorial election
South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1970
The 1970 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. John Carl West, the Democratic nominee, won a close general election against Albert Watson, the Republican congressman from the 2nd congressional...
, West defeated U.S. Congressman Albert Watson, a former Democrat, carrying 53.2% of the vote. Following his tenure as Governor, he returned to private law practice and served as United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1977 to 1981. After returning to the United States, he became a Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
. From 1993 until his death from cancer, he was a Partner in the Hilton Head, South Carolina law office of Bethea, Jordan, and Griffin.