West was born in Camden, South Carolina and grew up in the farming community of Charlotte Thompson near Camden.[1][2] The following May, his father, along with seventy-six other persons, was killed in a fire at the nearby Cleveland School.[2] His mother and maternal grandmother escaped unharmed from the fire.
In 1942, he graduated from The Citadel with a bachelor's degree in political science. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army as an intelligence officer during World War II, assigned to stateside service.[2]
Political careeredit
Following the war, West earned a law degree from the University of South Carolina in 1946. From 1948 to 1952, he served on the state Highway Commission. In 1954, he coordinated the unsuccessful U.S. Senate candidacy of Edgar A. Brown, who lost in a write-in campaign waged by former GovernorStrom Thurmond.[2]
From 1955 to 1967, West served in the state senate. He was assigned to several committees which studied public school curriculum, investigated activities of the Communist Party of the United States of America, monitored the state Development Board, examined state support for the nursing profession and junior colleges, and recommended revisions to the state constitution.
West was the 80th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, having served from 1967 to 1971. In the 1970 gubernatorial election, West with 53.2 percent of the vote defeated U.S. Representative Albert W. Watson, a Democrat-turned-Republican. Regarded as a New South governor, West vowed in his 1971 inaugural address that he would "eliminate from our government any vestige of discrimination because of race, creed, sex, religion or any other barrier to fairness for all citizens."[3]
After his tenure as governor, West returned to private law practice and was subsequently appointed United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, a position that he held from 1977 to 1981. After returning to the United States, he became a Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of South Carolina. From 1993 until his death from cancer, he was a partner in the Hilton Head law office of Bethea, Jordan, and Griffin.
john, west, british, electrical, engineer, philatelist, philatelist, john, carl, west, august, 1922, march, 2004, democratic, party, politician, served, 109th, governor, south, carolina, from, 1971, 1975, served, united, states, ambassador, saudi, arabia, from. For the British electrical engineer and philatelist see John C West philatelist John Carl West Sr August 27 1922 March 21 2004 was a U S Democratic Party politician who served as the 109th Governor of South Carolina from 1971 to 1975 He served as United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1977 to 1981 John C WestUnited States Ambassador to Saudi ArabiaIn office June 8 1977 March 21 1981PresidentJimmy CarterRonald ReaganPreceded byWilliam J PorterSucceeded byRobert G Neumann109th Governor of South CarolinaIn office January 19 1971 January 21 1975LieutenantEarle Morris Jr Preceded byRobert Evander McNairSucceeded byJames B Edwards80th Lieutenant Governor of South CarolinaIn office January 17 1967 January 19 1971GovernorRobert Evander McNairPreceded byRobert Evander McNairSucceeded byEarle Morris Jr Member of the South Carolina Senatefrom Kershaw CountyIn office January 11 1955 January 10 1967Preceded byJames Clator ArrantsSucceeded byDistrict abolishedPersonal detailsBornJohn Carl West 1922 08 27 August 27 1922Camden South Carolina U S DiedMarch 21 2004 2004 03 21 aged 81 Hilton Head Island South Carolina U S Political partyDemocraticSpouseLois Rhame m 1942 wbr Children3EducationThe CitadelUniversity of South CarolinaMilitary serviceBranch serviceUnited States Army Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editWest was born in Camden South Carolina and grew up in the farming community of Charlotte Thompson near Camden 1 2 The following May his father along with seventy six other persons was killed in a fire at the nearby Cleveland School 2 His mother and maternal grandmother escaped unharmed from the fire In 1942 he graduated from The Citadel with a bachelor s degree in political science After graduation he enlisted in the United States Army as an intelligence officer during World War II assigned to stateside service 2 Political career editFollowing the war West earned a law degree from the University of South Carolina in 1946 From 1948 to 1952 he served on the state Highway Commission In 1954 he coordinated the unsuccessful U S Senate candidacy of Edgar A Brown who lost in a write in campaign waged by former Governor Strom Thurmond 2 From 1955 to 1967 West served in the state senate He was assigned to several committees which studied public school curriculum investigated activities of the Communist Party of the United States of America monitored the state Development Board examined state support for the nursing profession and junior colleges and recommended revisions to the state constitution West was the 80th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina having served from 1967 to 1971 In the 1970 gubernatorial election West with 53 2 percent of the vote defeated U S Representative Albert W Watson a Democrat turned Republican Regarded as a New South governor West vowed in his 1971 inaugural address that he would eliminate from our government any vestige of discrimination because of race creed sex religion or any other barrier to fairness for all citizens 3 After his tenure as governor West returned to private law practice and was subsequently appointed United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia a position that he held from 1977 to 1981 After returning to the United States he became a Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of South Carolina From 1993 until his death from cancer he was a partner in the Hilton Head law office of Bethea Jordan and Griffin Personal life editWest married Lois Rhame in 1942 They had three children 1 West died of liver cancer at his home on Hilton Head Island on March 21 2004 3 References edit a b Bio John C West The State March 21 2004 Archived from the original on April 10 2004 Retrieved June 3 2023 a b c d John Carl West Papers University of South Carolina Retrieved June 3 2023 a b Sheinin Aaron Gould March 21 2004 Former Gov John C West dies at 81 The State Archived from the original on March 31 2004 Retrieved June 3 2023 External links editJohn West In His Own Words at University of South Carolina South Carolina Political Collections John Carl West Papers at South Carolina Political Collections University of South Carolina Governor John C West Collection at the South Carolina Department of Archives amp History RG 552000 1971 John C West Inaugural Parade and Swearing in Ceremony on South Carolina Educational TelevisionParty political officesPreceded byRobert Evander McNair Democratic nominee for Governor of South Carolina1970 Succeeded byCharles D RavenelPolitical officesPreceded byRobert Evander McNair Governor of South CarolinaJanuary 19 1971 January 21 1975 Succeeded byJames B EdwardsPreceded byRobert Evander McNair Lieutenant Governor of South CarolinaJanuary 17 January 19 1967 1971 Succeeded byEarle Morris Jr Diplomatic postsPreceded byWilliam J Porter United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia1977 1981 Succeeded byRobert G NeumannPortals nbsp Biography nbsp United States nbsp Law nbsp Politics nbsp Education nbsp World War II nbsp Christianity Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John C West amp oldid 1189761285, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
