Homer A. Holt

Homer Adams Holt ( born March 1, 1898 in Lewisburg, Greenbrier County, West Virginia; † January 16, 1975 in Charleston, West Virginia ) was an American politician and from 1937 to 1941 the 20th Governor of the state of West Virginia.

Early years and political rise

Homer Holt attended Greenbrier Military School and Washington and Lee University. During World War II he served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army. After the war he taught 1923-1925 at Washington and Lee University. At the same time he opened a law office in Fayetteville. Under Governor Herman G. Kump he was Attorney General of West Virginia. He supported Kump in the preparation of a tax reform.

Governor of West Virginia

In 1936, Holt was even chosen as the Democratic Party candidate for governor of his state. He began his four-year term on January 18, 1937. During his tenure, the right of pardon has been modernized and improved the funding of public schools. Through his critical attitude towards the labor movement and of further demands for school reform Holt drew the criticism of his own party, which was temporarily divided on these issues. In Fayette County, a scandal was uncovered, as in violation of all safety precautions, many workers were exposed to hazardous dust in a power plant. By inhaling the dust at least 476 people died of black lung disease. The exact number but could be much higher, because many of the affected workers were moved away and no longer included in the statistics. After all, the black lung disease was after these events classified as dangerous disease and the safety regulations were tightened.

Further CV

After the expiration of his term of office Holt joined a large law firm in Charleston. Between 1947 and 1953 he was a consultant and on the board of Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation in New York City. In his retirement, he worked part-time as a lawyer. Homer Holt died in 1975. He was married to Isabel Hedges Wood, with whom he had three children.