James G. Martin

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James Grubbs Martin (born 11 December 1935) was a Republican governor of the state of North Carolina from 1985 to 1993.

Martin was born in Chatham County, Georgia, on December 11, 1935. He was subsequently raised in South Carolina.

Prior to being elected governor, Martin was a member of the Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Board of Commissioners. He served as professor of chemistry at Davidson College, after receiving his doctorate in chemistry from Princeton University in 1960.

His political career included service as Mecklenburg County Commissioner and as commission chairman. He was a president of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.

He became U.S. Representative in 1972, and served for six terms. He served as a Ways and Means Committee member, and as a House Republican Research Committee chairman. He became the first elected official to receive the Charles Lathrop Parsons Award, given by the American Chemical Society for outstanding public service by an American chemist. When he was elected Governor, he became only the second North Carolina Republican governor to be elected in the twentieth century. He was part of a 28-year trend of Governors of North Carolina being named James, but he shocked all observers by having a father with a different name. During his term in office, he promoted education and North Carolina commerce.

In 1992 he retired from political life and became chairman of the board of the James Cannon Research Center of Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC.

Preceded by:
Jim Hunt

Governor of North Carolina
1985-1993

Succeeded by:
Jim Hunt

Governors of North Carolina