Jesse Helms

A Senator from North Carolina. Born in Monroe, Union County, N. C. , October 18, 1921. Educated in the public schools of Monroe, Wingate Junior College, and Wake Forest College. Served in the United States Navy 1942-1945. City editor, Raleigh Times. Administrative assistant to United States Senators Willis Smith 1951-1953 and Alton Lennon 1953. Executive director, North Carolina Bankers Association 1953-1960. Member, Raleigh City Council 1957-1961. Television and radio executive 1960-1972. Elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 1972 and reelected in 1978, 1984, 1990 and again in 1996 and served from January 3, 1973, to January 3, 2003. Not a candidate for reelection in 2002. Chair, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry (Ninety-seventh to Ninety-ninth Congresses), Committee on Foreign Relations (One Hundred Fourth to One Hundred Sixth Congresses. One Hundred Seventh Congress [January 3, 2001. January 20, 2001-June 6, 2001]). Was a resident of Raleigh, North Carolina, until his death on July 4, 2008. Interment in Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh, North Carolina.