James Collins "Jimmy" Green (February 24, 1921 – February 4, 2000)[1] was an American politician who served as Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives (1975–1976) and as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina (1977–1985).
Jimmy Green | |
|---|---|
 Green circa 1971 | |
| 28th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina | |
| In office January 8, 1977 – January 5, 1985 | |
| Governor | James B. Hunt, Jr. |
| Preceded by | James B. Hunt, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Robert B. Jordan, III |
| Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives | |
| In office 1961–1976 | |
| 136th Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives | |
| In office 1975–1976 | |
| Preceded by | James E. Ramsey |
| Succeeded by | Carl J. Stewart, Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Collins Green February 24, 1921 Halifax County, Virginia |
| Died | February 4, 2000 (aged 78) Elizabethtown, North Carolina |
| Resting place | Clarkton Cemetery, Clarkton, North Carolina |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
Political career
editGreen served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1961 through 1976.[citation needed] He was elected lieutenant governor in 1976 after defeating Howard Nathaniel Lee in a Democratic primary runoff.[citation needed] He was sworn in on January 8, 1977.[2][3] In 1980, after a change to the Constitution of North Carolina, Green became the first lieutenant governor elected to a second term. He defeated fellow former House Speaker Carl J. Stewart, Jr. in the 1980 Democratic primary, and then went on to defeat Republican Bill Cobey in the general election.[citation needed]
Green was charged in 1983 with accepting a bribe from an undercover FBI agent, but he was acquitted. The next year, he ran for Governor of North Carolina but finished fifth in the Democratic primary behind Rufus Edmisten. Green then threw his support to the Republican nominee, Jim Martin, giving him critical backing among conservative Democrats in eastern North Carolina. Martin went on to win the election.[4]
Later life and death
editHe was convicted of income tax fraud in 1997 and was sentenced to 33 months of house arrest. The scandal was in connection with a multimillion-dollar tobacco fraud scheme.[5]
He died in Bladen County hospital at Elizabethtown, North Carolina on February 4, 2000.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ Who's who in the South and Southwest - Google Books.
- ^ Stewart, Elizabeth (January 13, 1977). "Inauguration a Chilling Experience". King's Mountain Mirror-Herald. Vol. 88, no. 4. p. 2B.
- ^ Blue, Cliff (January 13, 1977). "People & Issues : Jim Green". The News-Journal. p. 2.
- ^ Political grudges are nothing new, Carolina Journal Online, John Hood, 11 October 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ "Before Black". The News Observer. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2008.
External links
edit- Mention at The Political Graveyard
