W. Kerr Scott
Encyclopedia
William Kerr Scott was a Democratic Party politician
from North Carolina
. He was the 62nd Governor of North Carolina
from 1949 until 1953 and a United States Senator
from 1954 until 1958.
and a farmer by training, Scott was a lifelong advocate for agricultural issues and became known in his home state as "the Squire of Haw River." He was elected as the state's Commissioner of Agriculture
, but resigned that post to run for governor in 1948. His followers, popularly known as "Branchhead Boys," fervently supported Scott in all his campaigns and remained a force in North Carolina politics for more than a decade following his death.
Scott created the "Go Forward" program with approval from the state legislature in 1949. Immediately following his term as governor, he represented North Carolina in the United States Senate
from 1954 and 1958. His son, Bob Scott
served as Governor from 1969 to 1973, and his granddaughter, Meg Scott Phipps
served as North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture from 2001 to 2003.
Scott is hailed as a forerunner when it comes to racial equality in the South. While he refrained from explicitly challenging institutions such as segregation, he consistently moved to advance the status of African Americans in government and society. He also sought to install individuals in office who favored the extension of full rights to African American citizens - the most noteworthy being University of North Carolina President Frank Porter Graham
, whom Scott appointed to fill a vacant United States Senate seat in 1949.
Graham was regarded as one of the most racially and generally progressive figures in the South, and became victimized by pernicious attacks concerning his views on race relations when he campaigned the following year to maintain his senate seat. In an effort to defend Graham, Scott lent the full weight of his political organization to him and assiduously campaigned across North Carolina. Albeit intervention from Scott, President Harry Truman, U.S. House Speaker Sam Rayburn, and others, Graham was defeated by conservative lawyer Willis Smith for the Democratic Party's nomination. The tenor of Willis' campaign was considered so offensive that Scott's wife, First Lady Mary Scott, refused to shake the senator-elect's hand at an Executive Mansion reception.
Years later, when Scott elected to run for the same U.S. Senate seat which had been contested by Graham, he was queried by a local reporter about how his campaign would respond to the race-baiting strategies that are imputed with the loss of his appointee. To this, he is said to have grinned and replied, "I'll handle it, son. I'm not as good a Christian as Frank Porter Graham."
Scott attained the Senate seat by approximately 8,000 votes and served until he died of a heart attack in 1958. His son, Robert Scott, was also elected governor in the 1960s.
Scott died in Burlington, North Carolina on April 16, 1958 and is buried in Hawfields Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Mebane
, North Carolina
.
The W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir in Wilkes County, North Carolina
are named in honor of the Scott. While Senator, he greatly assisted in obtaining approval for construction of the dam and reservoir. In addition, a residence hall is named in his memory on the campus of East Carolina University
and a technology building on the campus of Appalachian State University
is named for him.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. He was the 62nd Governor of North Carolina
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
from 1949 until 1953 and a United States Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from 1954 until 1958.
Biography
A native of Alamance County, North CarolinaAlamance County, North Carolina
Alamance County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It coincides with the Burlington, North Carolina, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and a farmer by training, Scott was a lifelong advocate for agricultural issues and became known in his home state as "the Squire of Haw River." He was elected as the state's Commissioner of Agriculture
North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture
The Commissioner of Agriculture is the head of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, as well as chairman of the state Board of Agriculture. As an executive officer elected statewide, the commissioner is also a member of the North Carolina Council of State.Leonidas L....
, but resigned that post to run for governor in 1948. His followers, popularly known as "Branchhead Boys," fervently supported Scott in all his campaigns and remained a force in North Carolina politics for more than a decade following his death.
Scott created the "Go Forward" program with approval from the state legislature in 1949. Immediately following his term as governor, he represented North Carolina in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from 1954 and 1958. His son, Bob Scott
Robert W. Scott
Robert Walter "Bob" Scott was the 67th Governor of the state of North Carolina from 1969 to 1973. He was born in Haw River, North Carolina.The son of North Carolina Governor W...
served as Governor from 1969 to 1973, and his granddaughter, Meg Scott Phipps
Meg Scott Phipps
Meg Scott Phipps was the Commissioner of Agriculture for the state of North Carolina from 2001 to 2003.-Early life:She is the daughter of former North Carolina governor Bob Scott and former First Lady Jessie Rae Scott, as well as the granddaughter of former U.S. Senator and North Carolina Governor...
served as North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture from 2001 to 2003.
Scott is hailed as a forerunner when it comes to racial equality in the South. While he refrained from explicitly challenging institutions such as segregation, he consistently moved to advance the status of African Americans in government and society. He also sought to install individuals in office who favored the extension of full rights to African American citizens - the most noteworthy being University of North Carolina President Frank Porter Graham
Frank Porter Graham
Frank Porter Graham was a president of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and, for a brief period, United States Senator.-Early life:...
, whom Scott appointed to fill a vacant United States Senate seat in 1949.
Graham was regarded as one of the most racially and generally progressive figures in the South, and became victimized by pernicious attacks concerning his views on race relations when he campaigned the following year to maintain his senate seat. In an effort to defend Graham, Scott lent the full weight of his political organization to him and assiduously campaigned across North Carolina. Albeit intervention from Scott, President Harry Truman, U.S. House Speaker Sam Rayburn, and others, Graham was defeated by conservative lawyer Willis Smith for the Democratic Party's nomination. The tenor of Willis' campaign was considered so offensive that Scott's wife, First Lady Mary Scott, refused to shake the senator-elect's hand at an Executive Mansion reception.
Years later, when Scott elected to run for the same U.S. Senate seat which had been contested by Graham, he was queried by a local reporter about how his campaign would respond to the race-baiting strategies that are imputed with the loss of his appointee. To this, he is said to have grinned and replied, "I'll handle it, son. I'm not as good a Christian as Frank Porter Graham."
Scott attained the Senate seat by approximately 8,000 votes and served until he died of a heart attack in 1958. His son, Robert Scott, was also elected governor in the 1960s.
Scott died in Burlington, North Carolina on April 16, 1958 and is buried in Hawfields Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Mebane
Mebane, North Carolina
Mebane is a city located mostly in Alamance County, North Carolina, United States, with a part of it in Orange County, North Carolina. It is part of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. The current population estimate is 10,624. According to the , the town was named for...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
Wilkes County, North Carolina
Wilkes County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The 2000 U.S. Census listed the county's population at 65,632; the 2010 U.S. Census listed the population at 69,340...
are named in honor of the Scott. While Senator, he greatly assisted in obtaining approval for construction of the dam and reservoir. In addition, a residence hall is named in his memory on the campus of East Carolina University
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
and a technology building on the campus of Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University is a comprehensive , public, coeducational university located in Boone, North Carolina, United States. Appalachian State, also referred to as Appalachian, App State, or simply App, is the sixth largest institution in the University of North Carolina system...
is named for him.