Clifton A. Woodrum
Clifton Alexander Woodrum | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 6th district | |
In office March 4, 1923 – December 31, 1945 At-large: March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935 | |
Preceded by | James P. Woods |
Succeeded by | J. Lindsay Almond |
Personal details | |
Born | April 27, 1887 University College of Medicine Washington and Lee University |
Profession | Pharmacist, Lawyer |
Clifton Alexander Woodrum (April 27, 1887 – October 6, 1950) was a
Early and family life
Born in
Careers
Woodrum became a registered pharmacist and engaged in his profession in Roanoke. He also followed his father's example, studied law at Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, and was admitted to the bar in 1908 and commenced practice in Roanoke, Virginia. His father had been Roanoke's first elected Commonwealth's Attorney, and he too served in that capacity, from 1917 to 1919. The Virginia General Assembly then elected Woodrum as a judge of the Roanoke's Hustings Court, where he served from 1919 to 1922.
Woodrum was elected as a
Woodrum was a fierce promoter of his state and region, and very fond of the song, "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny". The song was representative of the commonwealth in many ways. "When Clifton A, Woodrum was in Congress, the House of Representatives couldn't adjourn until the honorable Democrat from Roanoke, Virginia with a rich and varied baritone voice led the body in a rendition of "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny".[2]
Death and legacy
Woodrum died of a heart attack in Washington, D.C., October 6, 1950. He was interred in Fairview Cemetery, Roanoke, Virginia.[3] His son and namesake also became a lawyer in Roanoke, but only survived him by 9 years. His grandson Chip Woodrum continued the family tradition of opposing the Byrd organization, and served in the Virginia House of Delegates, where he became known (among other accomplishments) for updating Virginia's Freedom of Information Act.[4]
The Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional/Woodrum Field Airport (ROA) was activated in May 1930 due to the efforts of Rep. Woodrum to acquire the land and build the facility. It is named in his honor.[5] He was also influential in getting the airport passed as "National Defense Project", opening it up to government funding for improvements. Unbeknownst to Woodrum, his daughter, Martha Ann Woodrum, took flying lessons and became a pilot, as the father did later.[6]
Rep. Woodrum was also instrumental in bringing the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center to his district in 1934.[7]
Electoral history
- 1922; Woodrum was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 77.95% of the vote, defeating Republican Fred W. McWane.
- 1924; Woodrum was re-elected with 69.01% of the vote, defeating Republican McWane.
- 1926; Woodrum was re-elected unopposed.
- 1928; Woodrum was re-elected unopposed.
- 1930; Woodrum was re-elected unopposed.
- 1932; Woodrum was re-elected along with the Democratic slate in the at-large district; he won 8.39% of the vote in a 24-way race.
- 1934; Woodrum was re-elected with 67.14% of the vote, defeating Republican Thomas J. Wilson, Jr., Socialist W.L. Gibson, and Independent John Moffett Robinson.
- 1936; Woodrum was re-elected with 60.69% of the vote, defeating Republican T.X. Parsons.
- 1938; Woodrum was re-elected with 55.89% of the vote, defeating Republican McWane.
- 1940; Woodrum was re-elected with 68.14% of the vote, defeating Republican McWane and Socialist Lawrence S. Wilkes.
- 1942; Woodrum was re-elected with 93.56% of the vote, defeating Republican Stephen A. Moore.
- 1944; Woodrum was re-elected 69.09% of the vote, defeating Republican John Strickler.
Sources
- ^ Roanoke Times. Discover History & Heritage: Exploring the People and Places of Southwest Virginia. 2015. Issue 3 originally published with the copyrighted February 25, 2016 edition of The Roanoke Times. Page 58. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/930723037
- Roanoke Times. Discover History & Heritage. February 2018. Page 100.
- ^ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- ^ Obituary of Chip Woodrum
- ^ Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional/Woodrum Field Airport
- Roanoke Times. Discover History & Heritage. February 2018. Page 102.
- ^ Salem VA Medical Center
External links
- United States Congress. "Clifton A. Woodrum (id: W000720)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Clifton A. Woodrum at Find a Grave
they have becca woodrum