Martin Lancaster | |
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Assistant Secretary of the United States Army for Civil Works | |
In office January 1996 – June 1997 |
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President | Bill Clinton |
Preceded by | Nancy P. Dorn |
Succeeded by | Joseph W. Westphal |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 3rd district |
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In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1995 |
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Preceded by | Charles O. Whitley |
Succeeded by | Walter B. Jones, Jr. |
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives | |
In office 1979–1986 |
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Personal details | |
Born |
Harold Martin Lancaster March 24, 1943 Wayne, North Carolina, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Alma mater | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A., J.D.) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/branch | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1967–1970 (active) 1970–1993 (reserve) |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | J.A.G. Corps |
Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Harold Martin Lancaster (born March 24, 1943) is the former President of the North Carolina Community College System and former Chair of the National Council of State Directors of Community Colleges. He was also United States Representative from North Carolina from 1987 to 1995.
Lancaster was raised on a tobacco farm in rural Wayne County, North Carolina and spent his childhood working in the fields; he went to the small local school and participated in local church youth activities. In 1957, he served as a Page in the North Carolina House of Representatives and in 1959, as Chief Page.
In 1961, Lancaster went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and entered the law school at UNC after his junior year in college as a Law Alumni Scholar, graduating in 1967.
After graduating, he joined the United States Navy, serving on active duty as a judge advocate for three years, eighteen months of which were spent on the USS Hancock (CV-19) off the coast of Vietnam. Lancaster continued to serve as a reservist until 1993.
After his military service he returned to North Carolina and set up a law practice with a college classmate. In 1977, Governor Jim Hunt appointed him Chairman of the North Carolina Arts Council, a position he held for four years. This led to elective office, first to eight years in the North Carolina House of Representatives and ultimately to the U.S. Congress.