Political Leaders

In presidential elections, Henderson County residents voted for Dwight Eisenhower over Adlai Stevenson in 1952 and 1956.

N.C. General Assembly

State senators who represented Henderson County in the state General Assembly represented more than one county. Two were from Henderson County.

1. William Bryan Hodges (1900-1959), Democrat, served in the N.C. State Senate from 1948 to 1955. For more information, visit http://hendersonheritage.com/political-leaders/

2. Robert Lee Whitmire (1898-1970), Democrat, served in the N.C. State Senate from 1957 to 1959. He served as state senator from the 27th Senatorial District in 1927. He was a representative from Henderson County in the N.C. General Assembly in the sessions of 1949, 1951 and 1953. He was the brother of Boyce Augustus Whitmire (below). For more information, visit http://hendersonheritage.com/political-events-and-leaders-1920-to-1930/

Henderson County had its own representative in the State House in the N.C. General Assembly.

1, Robert Lee Whitmire (1898-1970), Democrat, represented Henderson County in the N.C. State House from 1949 to 1955 (see above)

2. Wiltshire Griffith (1886-1971), Republican, represented Henderson County in the N.C. State House from 1955 to 1957. He was born in Greenville, S.C. He was a pharmacist. He served on the Hendersonville Board of Commissioners from 1912 to 1913 and the Hendersonville City School Board in 1925, 1931 and from 1938 to 1943. He was the husband of Inez Waldrop of Henderson County. His grave site is at Shepherd Memorial Park.

3. John Troy Randall (1901-1979), Republican, represented Henderson County in the N.C. State House from 1957 to 1959. He was born in Buncombe County. He was an insurance representative, had worked with a telegraph company, and was a former teacher, a service station operator and retail grocer. He was the husband of Ruth Pace of Henderson County. His grave site is at Oakdale Cemetery in Hendersonville.

4. Boyce Augustus Whitmire (1905-1989), Democrat, represented Henderson County in the N.C. State House from 1959 to 1961. He was a lawyer. He was born in Transylvania County and grew up in Hendersonville. He was the brother of Robert Lee Whitmire (above). His grave site is at Shepherd Memorial Park.

Hendersonville Mayor

There was one mayor during this time period for the city of Hendersonville.
Albert Victor Edwards (1891-1971) was elected mayor in 1932. Edwards was mayor for 37 years until 1969. For more information, visit: http://hendersonheritage.com/political-events-and-leaders-1930s/

A total of 294 people in Henderson County were employed in public administration work by 1960. These included postal workers and others employed by the federal government, employees of state government and county and city employees.