James B. Gaston Explained

Party:Republican
Birth Date:25 October 1893
Birth Place:Gainesville, Georgia, U.S.
Death Place:Wilson, North Carolina, U.S.
Alma Mater:University of Georgia
Children:1

James Bostwick Gaston (October 25, 1893 – June 29, 1958) was an American businessman and politician from South Carolina. He was a president of the Greenville Spinners, and was known for being a Republican in South Carolina during the period of the Solid South.

Early life

Gaston was born on October 25, 1893, in Gainesville, Georgia.[1] He attended college at the University of Georgia, where he played baseball. He moved to Greenville, South Carolina, in 1942 and became manager of the Greenville Spinners.

Political career

Gaston ran for office as a Republican in 1944 for the U.S. Senate, losing to Olin B. Johnston.[2] He served as Greenville County Republican chairman.[3] He would unsuccessfully run for the House in 1948, losing to Joseph R. Bryson.[4]

Personal life

He married his wife, Elizabeth Sligh Greneker, on December 24, 1923. He died on June 19, 1958, in Wilson, North Carolina, aged 64.

Electoral history

|-| style="color:inherit;background:#00FFFF" || Progressive Democratic| Osceola E. McKaine| align="right" | 3,214| align="right" | 3.16%| align="right" | N/A|-| style="color:inherit;background:#FF3333" || Republican (Tolbert)| B.L. Hendrix| align="right" | 141| align="right" | 0.14%| align="right" | N/A|-|-| | colspan=5 |Democratic hold|-

Notes and References

  1. News: 1958-07-01 . Jimmy Gaston Dies Suddenly; Ex-Spinn Head . 2024-02-17 . The Greenville News . 3.
  2. News: 1944-11-02 . South Carolina Republican Ticket, 1944 . 2024-02-17 . The Press and Standard . 2.
  3. News: 1948-04-07 . James B. Gaston, U.S. Senate candidate in1948 . 2024-02-17 . The Greenville News . 2.
  4. News: 1948-08-05 . Gaston Candidate on GOP Ticket . 2024-02-17 . The State . 10.