Sam J. Ervin Jr.

(brother of Joseph Wilson Ervin), a Representative and a Senator from North Carolina. Born in Morganton, Burke County, N. C. , September 27, 1896. Attended the public schools. Graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1917 and from the law school of Harvard University in 1922. During the First World War served in France with the First Division 1917-1919. Admitted to the bar in 1919 and commenced practice in Morganton, N. C. , in 1922. Member, North Carolina general assembly 1923, 1925, 1931. Judge of the Burke County criminal court 1935-1937. Judge of the North Carolina superior court 1937-1943. Elected on January 22, 1946, as a Democrat to the Seventy-ninth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his brother, Joseph W. Ervin, and served from January 22, 1946, to January 3, 1947. Was not a candidate for renomination in 1946. Resumed the practice of law. Associate justice of the North Carolina supreme court 1948-1954. Appointed on June 5, 1954, and subsequently elected on November 2, 1954, as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Clyde R. Hoey for the term ending January 3, 1957. Reelected in 1956, 1962, and again in 1968 and served from June 5, 1954, until his resignation December 31,1974. Was not a candidate for reelection in 1974. Chairman, Committee on Government Operations (Ninety-second and Ninety-third Congresses), Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities (Ninety-third Congress). Resumed the practice of law and engaged in literary pursuits in Morganton, N. C. Died in Winston-Salem, N. C. , on April 23, 1985. Interment in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Morganton, N. C.