James M. Clarke | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNorth Carolina's11th district | |
| In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1991 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Hendon |
| Succeeded by | Charles Taylor |
| In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1985 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Hendon |
| Succeeded by | Bill Hendon |
| Member of theNorth Carolina Senate from the 26th district | |
| In office 1981–1983 | |
| Preceded by | Larry B. Leake |
| Succeeded by | T. Cass Ballenger William W. Redman, Jr |
| Member of theNorth Carolina House of Representatives from the 43rd district | |
| In office 1977–1981 | |
| Preceded by | Herbert Hyde John S. Stevens |
| Succeeded by | Narvel J. Crawford, Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1917-06-12)June 12, 1917 |
| Died | April 13, 1999(1999-04-13) (aged 81) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Elspie Clarke |
| Relatives | Eric Ager (grandson)[1] |
James "Jamie" McClure Clarke (June 12, 1917 – April 13, 1999) was aNorth Carolina politician and farmer. He is a formerDemocratic member of theUnited States House of Representatives.
Born inManchester, Vermont, Clarke grew up inAsheville, North Carolina. Clarke graduated with an A.B. in history fromPrinceton University in 1939 after completing a 78-page long senior thesis titled "The Princetonian: A History of College Life."[2] He then served as aLieutenant in theUnited States Navy duringWorld War II in thePacific from 1942 to 1945. After his service, Clarke worked as adairy farmer andorchardist in western North Carolina. He became president of the Farmers Federation Cooperative in 1956.
In 1976, Clarke was elected to theNorth Carolina House of Representatives as a Democrat. In 1980 he was elected to theNorth Carolina Senate. In the1982 election Clarke was elected to the98th United States Congress representingNorth Carolina's 11th congressional district. He was reelected to the100th and101st Congresses. In Congress, he was known as an advocate for theenvironment.
In the 1980s Clarke's congressional campaigns became nationally famous due to his long-running rivalry with RepublicanBill Hendon. In 1982 Clarke defeated then-Congressman Hendon by less than 1,500 votes. In 1984 Hendon gained revenge by defeating Clarke's bid for a second term by just two percentage points. In 1986, Clarke defeated Hendon's bid for re-election by only one percentage point. Although Hendon then retired from politics, Clarke's seat remained competitive. In 1988 RepublicanCharles H. Taylor came within one percentage point of defeating Clarke; in 1990 Taylor unseated Clarke in another close election. Given his age (he was 73 at the time of his loss to Taylor), Clarke decided to retire from politics.
Clarke's family farm is still operating today as Hickory Nut Gap Farms in Fairview, North Carolina. His grandson,Eric Ager, currently represents Buncombe County in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help)| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by Bill Hendon | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromNorth Carolina's 11th congressional district 1983–1985 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Bill Hendon | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromNorth Carolina's 11th congressional district 1987–1991 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
