Oliver Max Gardner
Oliver Max Gardner | |
---|---|
William B. Cooper | |
Member of the North Carolina Senate | |
Personal details | |
Born | Shelby, North Carolina, U.S. | March 22, 1882
Died | February 6, 1947 (aged 64) Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Fay Webb |
Alma mater | North Carolina State University University of North Carolina School of Law |
Oliver Max Gardner (March 22, 1882 – February 6, 1947) was an American politician who served as the
Early years and education
Gardner was born on March 22, 1882, in
Political career
Gardner returned to Shelby to practice law and married Fay Webb, daughter of prominent politician James L. Webb and niece of Congressman Edwin Y. Webb.
Gardner was elected as a
Gardner made peace with Sen. Simmons. He agreed to support Simmons's favored candidate for governor in 1924,
Governor
Easily elected governor in 1928, Gardner assumed control over a state that was in debt and soon had to deal with the effects of the Great Depression. Gardner commissioned a report by the Brookings Institution on how to cut costs in government and cut local property taxes. Gardner pushed many of the Brookings recommendations through the legislature, including taking over financial responsibility for roads and schools from counties and the creation of what would become the consolidated University of North Carolina system. He reorganized and reformed the state government.[6]
Meanwhile, Gardner took a pro-business, anti-union stance in a period of labor unrest, including the
Later years
After leaving the governor's mansion (governors of the state were then barred from seeking re-election), Gardner practiced law and lobbied in Washington, D.C. He was an informal advisor and speech-writer for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who appointed him chairman of the advisory board to the Office of War Mobilization and Reconversion, and later a member of the Joint Anglo-American Commission on Palestine.
President
Legacy
Gardner founded the influential "Shelby Dynasty" or "Cleveland Dynasty" of politicians, which included Governor
Gardner–Webb University is named for Gardner and his wife, Fay Webb-Gardner. The Fine Arts building at Gardner–Webb University is named for him as well. Gardner Hall, a dormitory at Appalachian State University, is also named for him, as is the economics building at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as is one of the biology buildings at North Carolina State University. The O. Max Gardner Award was established in his will to recognize University of North Carolina system faculty who have "made the greatest contributions to the welfare of the human race." It is the only award for which all faculty members of the 16 UNC campuses are eligible and is considered the UNC system's highest faculty honor.[14]
His home at Shelby, Webbley, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.[15]
Notes
- ^ "Sadler Is Made Captain of All-Southern Team". Atlanta Constitution. November 29, 1903.
- ISBN 978-0-8078-3189-2.
- ^ Christensen. p. 50.
- ^ "NC Governor – Democratic Primary Runoff". OurCampaigns.com. 1920-07-03. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ^ Christensen. p. 64.
- ^ Christensen. pp. 66-68.
- ^ Christensen. pp. 69-75.
- ^ "The Politician". Governor O. Max Gardner III. Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ^ "To the crossroads". Time. 1946-12-23. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ^ "National Affairs: Arrival & Departure". Time. 1947-02-17. Archived from the original on February 3, 2011. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ^ Cleveland Daily Banner; DePauw University. "The Daily Banner, vol. 55, no. 93, February 6, 1947". depauw.edu.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Christensen. p. 62.
- ^ "Shelby Dynasty". National Park Service. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ^ "O. Max Gardner Awards". UNC-TV. Archived from the original on 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.