James Allen Graham | |
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Jim Graham in 1992
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13th North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture | |
In office July 19, 1964 – January 2001 |
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Appointed by | Terry Sanford |
Preceded by | Lynton Y. Ballentine |
Succeeded by | Meg Scott Phipps |
Personal details | |
Born |
Cleveland, North Carolina |
April 27, 1921
Died | November 20, 2003 | (aged 82)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Helen Ida Kirk (October 30, 1942 - her death 1999) |
Alma mater | North Carolina State University, B.S., (Agricultural Education) 1942. |
Nickname(s) | Jim |
James Allen Graham, (April 27, 1921 – November 20, 2003) was a North Carolina teacher and politician who served as the thirteenth North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture.
Graham was born on April 7, 1921 to James Turner and Laura Blanche Allen Graham in Cleveland, North Carolina. Graham was raised in Rowan County, North Carolina on a 250-acre farm where the family raised cotton, cattle and grain.
Graham graduated from Cleveland High School in 1938, where he played on the High School football team. In 1942 Graham graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education from North Carolina State College.
Jim Graham married Helen Ida Kirk, on October 30, 1942, they had two daughters, Alice Kirk Graham, and Laura Constance Graham.
On July 19, 1964 Graham was appointed North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture, by Governor Terry Sanford, to fill the unexpired term of the late Lynton Y. Ballentine. Graham was elected Commissioner of Agriculture in November 1964 and reelected eight times.