James Allen Graham Explained

James Allen Graham
Term Start:July 19, 1964
Term End:January 2001
Predecessor:Lynton Y. Ballentine
Birth Date:7 April 1921
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Helen Ida Kirk (October 30, 1942 - her death 1999)
Alma Mater:North Carolina State University, B.S., (Agricultural Education) 1942.
Nickname:Jim

James Allen Graham, (April 27, 1921 – November 20, 2003) was an American teacher and politician who served as the thirteenth North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture.[1]

Early life

Graham was born on April 7, 1921, to James Turner and Laura Blanche Allen Graham in Cleveland, North Carolina.[2] [1] Graham was raised in Rowan County, North Carolina, on a 250-acre farm where the family raised cotton, cattle and grain.[3]

Education

Graham graduated from Cleveland High School in 1938, where he played on the High School football team.[2] In 1942 Graham graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education[4] from North Carolina State College[1] where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.[5]

Family life

Jim Graham married Helen Ida Kirk, on October 30, 1942, they had two daughters, Alice Kirk Graham, and Laura Constance Graham.[1]

Commissioner of Agriculture

On July 19, 1964, Graham was appointed North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture, by Governor Terry Sanford, to fill the unexpired term of the late Lynton Y. Ballentine. Graham was elected Commissioner of Agriculture in November 1964 and reelected eight times.[2] [1]

Writings

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: RESOLUTION 2005-25. North Carolina General Assembly. September 21, 2012.
  2. News: Wineka. Mark. Jim Graham: After 36 years, agriculture commissioner steps aside. September 21, 2012. The Salisbury Post. November 22, 2000. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080704210700/http://www.salisburypost.com/2000nov/112200b.htm. July 4, 2008.
  3. News: Yancy. Cecil H. Jr.. 'Sodfather,' Jim Graham, dies at 82. September 21, 2012. Southeast Farm Press. November 26, 2003.
  4. Web site: NCSU Libraries Special Collections . 2012-09-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100610143657/http://historicalstate.lib.ncsu.edu/catalog/0000034 . 2010-06-10 . dead .
  5. Staff Writer (Summer 2012). "Tekes in Politics" . The Teke. pp. 12–13. Tau Kappa Epsilon. Retrieved January 10, 2018.