Luther H. Hodges
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Luther Hartwell Hodges (9 March 1898 – 6 October 1974) was the Democratic governor of the state of North Carolina from 1954 to 1961 and United States Secretary of Commerce from 1961 to 1965. Hodges worked his way from mill-work to executive positions in industry; at the same time, he was an active supporter of vocational education programs in North Carolina. He was elected the state's lieutenant governor in 1952 and succeeded to the position of governor in November of 1954 upon the death of Governor William B. Umstead. Two years later, he was elected on his own to a four-year term as governor. Because North Carolina had a one-term limit for governors at that time, Hodges had the longest continuous tenure in the office until Jim Hunt succeeded in getting the state constitution changed. During his time in office, Governor Hodges promoted industrialization and education, while attempting to limit racial tension. Cole denounced the Ku Klux Klan after its harassment of the Lumbee led to violence at the Battle of Hayes Pond.
Template:Start box Template:Succession box {{succession box | title= United States Secretary of Commerce | before= Frederick Henry Mueller | after= John Thomas Connor | years= January 21, 1961 – January 15, 1965 }}Template:End box