A. Linwood Holton Jr.
| Linwood Holton | |
|---|---|
.png) |
|
| Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs | |
|
In office February 28, 1974 – January 31, 1975 |
|
| President |
Richard Nixon Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | Marshall Wright |
| Succeeded by | Robert J. McCloskey |
| 61st Governor of Virginia | |
|
In office January 17, 1970 – January 12, 1974 |
|
| Lieutenant |
Sargeant Reynolds Henry Howell |
| Preceded by | Mills Godwin |
| Succeeded by | Mills Godwin |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Abner Linwood Holton Jr. September 21, 1923 Big Stone Gap, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Jinks Rogers |
| Children | 4 (including Anne and Woody) |
| Education |
Washington and Lee University (BA) Harvard University (LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1942–1969 |
| Rank |
 Captain
|
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Abner Linwood "Lin" Holton Jr. (born September 21, 1923) is a Virginia political figure and attorney. He served as the 61st Governor of Virginia, from 1970 to 1974. He was the first Republican governor of Virginia in the 20th Century. He was also the first Republican who won a popular election as governor. Holton is the father of Anne, and the father-in-law of Tim Kaine.
A. Linwood Holton Jr. was born on September 21, 1923 in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. His father was "the executive of a small coal-hauling railroad".
Holton entered Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, in 1941. After the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the United States Navy on July 4, 1942. He received a commission after graduating in 1944 and served on active duty submarine service throughout World War II and in the reserves for more than two decades afterwards. He graduated from Harvard Law School in 1949. Prior to entering politics, he was an attorney in Roanoke, Virginia.
Holton was active in the Republican Party when it barely existed in Virginia. He was one of the leading Republicans who fought the Byrd Organization during the three decades it dominated Virginia politics.
In 1965, Holton ran for governor as the Republican candidate and was defeated by Democrat Mills E. Godwin Jr. In 1969, Holton won 52.51% of the vote in the gubernatorial election, defeating Democrat William C. Battle, Virginia Conservative Beverly B. McDowell, American Independent William A. Pennington, and Independent George R. Walker. He became the first Republican governor of Virginia since 1869.
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