Charles K. Claunch
Encyclopedia
Charles Kenneth Claunch, Sr. (October 7, 1899November 9, 1978) was an usher for the White House
who was appointed as Government Secretary to the United States Virgin Islands
and was briefly acting-Governor in 1955 after a scandal.
in 1918 where he was assigned to the White House as an assistant to a naval aide. In 1938, with a rank of chief petty officer
, he resigned from the Navy to accept a position as an usher in the White House. In 1943, his wife committed suicide.
He was appointed Government Secretary, a position in the territorial government equivalent to Lieutenant Governor
of a state, on March 25, 1954. After a scandal and the resignation of Governor Archie Alexander
, Claunch was made acting-Governor from August 17 to October 31, 1955. He was reportedly offered the position of full Governor, but declined. The Washington Post reported that he was the only white man to have served under Alexander's government. He resigned in 1957. He died on November 9, 1978 in Ormond Beach, Florida
.
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
who was appointed as Government Secretary to the United States Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands of the United States are a group of islands in the Caribbean that are an insular area of the United States. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles.The U.S...
and was briefly acting-Governor in 1955 after a scandal.
Biography
Claunch was born in Chicago, Illinois and joined the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in 1918 where he was assigned to the White House as an assistant to a naval aide. In 1938, with a rank of chief petty officer
Chief Petty Officer
A chief petty officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards.-Canada:"Chief Petty Officer" refers to two ranks in the Canadian Navy...
, he resigned from the Navy to accept a position as an usher in the White House. In 1943, his wife committed suicide.
He was appointed Government Secretary, a position in the territorial government equivalent to Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
of a state, on March 25, 1954. After a scandal and the resignation of Governor Archie Alexander
Archie Alexander
Archie Alphonso Alexander was an African-American mathematician and engineer and an early African-American graduate of the University of Iowa. He was also a governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands....
, Claunch was made acting-Governor from August 17 to October 31, 1955. He was reportedly offered the position of full Governor, but declined. The Washington Post reported that he was the only white man to have served under Alexander's government. He resigned in 1957. He died on November 9, 1978 in Ormond Beach, Florida
Ormond Beach, Florida
Ormond Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, United States. The population was 36,301 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 37,929. Ormond Beach is the northern neighbor of Daytona Beach and is home to Tomoka State Park.-History:Ormond Beach was...
.
Further reading
- Washington Post; April 5, 1938; White House Changes.
- Washington Post; Jan 10, 1943; City News In Brief.
- New York Times; August 19, 1955; Island Choice Weighed.