Cecil Underwood Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

January 14, 1957: Cecil Underwood Inaugurated State's Youngest Governor

On January 14, 1957, Cecil Underwood became West Virginia’s youngest governor. The 34-year-old Tyler County native also became the state’s first Republican governor in 24 years.

Underwood pledged to hire qualified personnel, keep taxes low, reform state purchasing, improve roads and education, and attract new industry. A Democratic-controlled legislature blocked most of his agenda. Most notably, it slashed 90 percent from Underwood’s proposed $500 million road program. However, he was able to pass measures to provide emergency benefits to unemployed miners and to create a new economic development agency.

The state constitution barred Underwood from running for a second term. Instead, he ran for U.S. Senate in 1960 and lost to incumbent Jennings Randolph. He fell short in his attempts to regain the governorship in 1964, ’68, and ’76. During this time, he held executive positions with coal and chemical companies and served as Bethany College’s president. After years out of the political spotlight, he launched a comeback in 1996. He defeated Charlotte Pritt for governor and took office at age 75. This time, he became West Virginia’s oldest governor.

Cecil Underwood died in 2008 at age 86.

Board Oks Ending Budget Director's Civil Service Protection

The West Virginia Personnel Board has voted to eliminate civil service protection for the state Budget Office director.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports the vote Thursday will take effect Saturday, as the Budget Director Mike McKown’s joins the State Auditor’s Office as a deputy auditor.

In 2000, then-Gov. Cecil Underwood issued executive orders giving civil service protection to multiple state government positions. Underwood’s orders followed legislation that passed the Senate. It stated that effective government requires state employees hold political beliefs and party commitments that are consistent with or compatible with the governor’s.

The legislation’s critics said it was designed to make it easier to fire Underwood appointees if he lost re-election. The bill died in the House of Delegates and Underwood lost that November.

October 21, 1940: Gov. William Conley Dies at 74

On October 21, 1940, former West Virginia Governor William G. Conley died at the age of 74. The Republican started his career as a schoolteacher and became superintendent of Preston County schools at age 25. After earning his law degree, he opened a legal practice in Tucker County and founded the Parsons Advocate newspaper. He also served as mayor of Parsons and Kingwood before being appointed West Virginia attorney general in 1908.

After a defeat for Congress in 1912, Conley focused on his legal work and became involved in the coal industry. In 1928, he returned to politics and won the governorship. But troubling times were just around the corner. The stock market crashed during his first year in office. Over the next three years, West Virginia lost more than 30,000 coal jobs. Despite his distrust of government intervention, Conley promoted efforts to distribute food and create jobs.

The Great Depression was a turning point for West Virginia politics. During Conley’s term, the state became solidly Democratic. Since Conley left office in 1933, only two Republicans, Cecil Underwood and Arch Moore, have served as West Virginia’s governor.