James L. Bentley

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James Lynwood Bentley, Jr.
Comptroller General of Georgia
In office
1963–1971
Personal details
Born(1927-06-15)June 15, 1927
Upson County, Georgia, USA
DiedNovember 7, 2003(2003-11-07) (aged 76)
Political partyDemocratic (until 1968)
Republican (1968–2003)
SpouseGwen Bentley
ChildrenBetty Bentley Watson

James Lynwood Bentley, III

Samuel Jackson Bentley

James Lynwood Bentley, Jr. (June 15, 1927 in

Chicago, Illinois
that year.

1970 gubernatorial election

Bentley unsuccessfully sought the

. Suit polled 62,868 primary votes (58.5 percent) to Bentley's 40,251 (37.4 percent).

In the primary race, Bentley carried the backing of the

Howard Callaway, even though Bentley had earlier voted for Callaway's Democratic opponent, Lester Maddox (who was ultimately elected as governor by the state legislature). Bentley said that he was shunned by the GOP regulars who "seemed somewhat indignant because we had not consulted the Republican leadership before we joined." Bentley blamed his primary loss on "stand-pat" Republicans practicing "kamikaze" politics.[1]

Suit subsequently lost the general election to Democrat Jimmy Carter, 41-59 percent.

Early life and family

Bentley graduated from

Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He attended Emory at Oxford College for a short time, then joined the navy. He served from 1945 to 1946 as an aviation flight crewman in the Naval Air Corps. After discharge from the navy, he went back to Oxford College of Emory University and transferred to the University of Georgia School in 1947. He received his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1950. Bentley served as Executive Secretary to Governor Herman Talmadge
from 1951 through 1955.

Bentley was survived by his wife of 52 years, Gwen Bentley, his daughter, Betty Bentley Watson, and two sons, James Lynwood Bentley, III and Samuel Jackson Bentley.[2]

Bentley's father,

Georgia State Legislature.[3]

References

External links