Clarence W. Meadows

Clarence Watson Meadows ( born February 11, 1904 in Beckley, West Virginia; † September 12, 1961 in Clifton Forge, Virginia ) was an American politician and from 1945 to 1949 the 22nd Governor of the state of West Virginia.

Early years and political rise

Clarence Meadows attended high school in his hometown of Beckley, the Georgia Military Academy in College Park and the Washington and Lee University. He then studied at the University of Alabama law. After graduating in 1927, and the following admission to the bar he practiced both in Alabama and in West Virginia. Between 1931 and 1932 Meadows sat in the House of Representatives from West Virginia. Then he was from 1933 to 1936 worked as a prosecutor in Raleigh County. This was followed by the climb to the Attorney General of West Virginia. He held this office 1937-1942. After that he became a judge in the tenth judicial district.

Governor of West Virginia

In 1944 he was elected as a candidate of the Democratic Party as the new governor of his state. Meadows ' four-year term began on January 15, 1945. At this time the Second World War was still in full swing. After the war ended in September 1945, industrial production had to be converted back to civilian use in West Virginia. More than any of his predecessors took advantage of Meadows on the radio to bring his ideas closer to the citizens. During his tenure, the governor arbitrated several labor disputes. He also reformed its administration. He increased the budget for educational policy, public works and various Wohlfartsprogramme.

Further CV

After the end of his term in January 1949 Meadows opened a law firm in Charleston. He was involved in oil and gas companies, and three radio stations. He later moved to Fort Lauderdale in Florida. In 1958, he was campaign manager of Claude Pepper at its unsuccessful attempt to be elected to the U.S. Senate. Clarence Meadows died in September 1961. He was married to Nancy Ryals Massie, with whom he had four children.