John S. Battle
John S. Battle | |
---|---|
56th Governor of Virginia | |
In office January 18, 1950 – January 20, 1954 | |
Lieutenant | Lewis Preston Collins II Allie E. S. Stephens |
Preceded by | William M. Tuck |
Succeeded by | Thomas B. Stanley |
Member of the Virginia Senate | |
In office January 10, 1934 – January 11, 1950 | |
Preceded by | Nathaniel B. Early |
Succeeded by | Edward O. McCue Jr. |
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates for Albemarle, Greene, and Charlottesville | |
In office January 8, 1930 – January 10, 1934 | |
Preceded by | Albert S. Bolling |
Succeeded by | Edward O. McCue Jr. |
Personal details | |
Born | John Stewart Battle July 11, 1890 New Bern, North Carolina, U.S. |
Died | April 9, 1972 Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S. | (aged 81)
Resting place | Monticello Memorial Park, Charlottesville, Virginia |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Janie Lipscombe |
Children | 2 |
Alma mater | |
Profession | Lawyer, politician |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Rank | Private |
Battles/wars | World War I |
John Stewart Battle (July 11, 1890 – April 9, 1972) was an American lawyer and politician who served in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly and as the 56th Governor of Virginia (from 1950 to 1954).
Early and family life
Battle was born in 1890 in New Bern,
Political career
Battle won election to the
With the assistance of Virginia Beach boss Sidney Kellam, Battle defeated "anti" Byrd Organization leader Francis Pickens Miller in the Democratic primary, by depicting him as a liberal and controlled by labor unions, and nearly ignoring his other opponents (Horace Edwards and Petersburg businessman Remmie Arnold). Prominent Republican Henry Wise of the Virginia Eastern Shore even urged his supporters to vote for Battle in the Democratic Party to repel the "invasion by aliens." Battle won 43% of the vote; Miller 35%, Edwards 15% and Arnold 7%[1]
During his gubernatorial term, Virginia's General Assembly approved $45 million for school construction, which barely kept pace with population increases. Per pupil expenditures and teacher salaries remained below national averages, and the state ranked last nationally in percentage of high school age children actually attending high school, and next-to-last in college age children going to college. Virginia also ranked 40th in appropriations to care for the mentally ill.[2]
Battle was a Delegate to the
After his term ended in 1954, Battle went into semi retirement in Charlottesville, Virginia, although he continued to practice law, including representing the Albemarle County public schools, who faced a desegregation lawsuit by the NAACP.
Battle's political ambitions continued, despite the national spotlight on Virginia and the
In 1959,
Death and legacy
Battle died in 1972, at the age of 81, and was buried in Monticello Memorial Park in Charlottesville.
His two sons became lawyers and continued their father's public involvement:
John S. Battle High School in Washington County, Virginia, built in 1959, bears his name. Battle Hall at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind is also named for the former governor.
Election
1949; Battle was elected Governor of Virginia with 70.43% of the vote, defeating Republican Walter Johnson and Social Democrat Clark T. Robb.
References
- University Press of Virginia1996) pp. 281–284
- ^ Heinemann p. 317