Harvey Cloyd Philpott was an American businessman and politician who served as the 24th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina in 1961. Philpott, a onetime member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, was elected as a Democrat to a four-year term as Lieutenant Governor in 1960, assuming office the following year. In his short time in office, Cloyd Philpott was a key ally in the legislature for Governor Terry Sanford. Sanford originally wished that Philpott would succeed him as governor, but this was cut short by Philpott's sudden death eight months into his term.
Early life
Harvey Cloyd Philpott was born on April 6, 1909 in Bassett, Virginia, United States to Benjamin Cabell Philpott Sr. and Daisy Hundley Philpott. In 1920 Harvey's father purchased a bankrupt furniture factory in Lexington, North Carolina and moved the family there. Harvey attended Lexington High School from 1921 until 1925. Thereafter he attended Eastman Business College and the Virginia Military Institute. While he was at the latter institution, he served as a cadetcaptain of Company C, edited the school newspaper and served as president of the North Carolina Club. He graduated in 1929. On June 11, 1931 Philpott married Frances Adelaide Thompson. They had three children. He served as a captain in the Lexington Company of the North Carolina State Guard from 1941 to 1946.
Business career
While he was a high school student, Philpott worked in his father's furniture business. After completing his education, he entered the furniture business, and eventually rose to become president and chairman of the board of the United Furniture Corporation and of the Philpott Furniture Corporation of Lexington. He served one term as president of the Southern Furniture Manufacturer's Association. In 1956 the American Furniture Mart declared him "Furniture Man of the Year". He also served on the board of directors of the Commercial Bank of Lexington and the Mutual Savings and Loan Association in Lexington.
Political career
In 1934 Philpott was elected to the Lexington School Board. He later attributed his involvement in the body to spurring his interest in politics. He served on the board until 1945, acting as chairman for the last two years. In 1945 he was elected Mayor of Lexington. He held the office for four years, and thereafter served on the Lexington Utilities Committee until 1956. In 1953 Philpott was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives. In 1957 he urged the legislature to adopt a state minimum wage law, arguing that the previous adoption of a federal minimum wage law had spurred economic growth in the American South. Though many conservatives and businessmen were opposed to the measure, Philpott's support helped ensure that a minimum wage statute was adopted. In 1960 Philpott ran for the office of Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina. Terry Sanford, who was launching a candidacy to become Governor of North Carolina, had considered making Philpott his campaign manager until Philpott announced his own bid for office. Philpott endorsed Sanford's plans to increase spending on public education. In the Democratic primary election he faced David M. McConnell. He earned 238,353 votes to McConnell's 175,150, thus securing the Democratic nomination. In the general election he faced Republican S. Clyde Eggers. He won 765,519 votes to his opponent's 532,445 votes. Sanford also won his election and became Governor. Philpott acted as his main ally in the North Carolina Senate. As Lieutenant Governor, Philpott had the responsibility of making committee appointments in the Senate. Instead of honoring the tradition of always giving committee chairs to senators with seniority, he appointed first-term Senator Thomas Jackson White—his friend—as Chairman of the Committee on Finance. Sanford hoped to support Philpott in a bid to succeed him as Governor in 1964.
Death
On the morning of August 16, 1961 at his home near High Rock Lake, Philpott became stricken by severe chest and abdominal pains. He walked to a neighboring doctor's cabin, and the doctor called for an ambulance which transported him to N.C. Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. Doctors later determined that he was suffering from aortic dissection. He died at 5:45 PM on August 19 at the hospital. A funeral was held on August 21 in Lexington at the First Baptist Church and Philpott was subsequently buried in Forest Hill Memorial Park. His death left the office of Lieutenant Governor vacant pending the election of a new person to the position in 1964, as there was no constitutional mechanism to fill the vacancy. State SenatorClarence Stone assumed the responsibility of presiding over the Senate. His family and friends established a scholarship fund in his name for aspiring Davidson County college students.
