Charles Orville Whitley
Encyclopedia
Charles Orville Whitley was a Democratic U.S. Congressman
from North Carolina
between 1977 and 1986.
Born in Siler City, North Carolina
, Whitley attended Siler City High School, graduating in 1943. He served in the United States Army
from 1944 to 1946, then attended Wake Forest University
, earning his undergraduate degree in 1949 and a law degree in 1950. He earned an M.A. from the George Washington University
in 1974.
Whitley became a lawyer and practiced in Mount Olive, North Carolina
. He became the town's attorney in 1961; that same year, he joined the staff of Congressman David Henderson
. In 1976 Whitley ran for Congress himself and was elected as a Democrat
to the 95th United States Congress
.
Re-elected four times (serving in Congress from January 3, 1977 to December 31, 1986). He did not seek re-election in 1986, but retired to political consulting. Whitley died in Durham, North Carolina
in 2002.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
between 1977 and 1986.
Born in Siler City, North Carolina
Siler City, North Carolina
Siler City is a town in Chatham County, North Carolina, United States. The population is right at 8,747 within corporate limits and 14,005 within corporate limits and ETJ...
, Whitley attended Siler City High School, graduating in 1943. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1944 to 1946, then attended Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
, earning his undergraduate degree in 1949 and a law degree in 1950. He earned an M.A. from the George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
in 1974.
Whitley became a lawyer and practiced in Mount Olive, North Carolina
Mount Olive, North Carolina
This article is about the town in Wayne County, North Carolina. For the unincorporated community in Stokes County see Mount Olive, Stokes County, North Carolina....
. He became the town's attorney in 1961; that same year, he joined the staff of Congressman David Henderson
David Henderson
David Henderson may refer to:*David B. Henderson , prominent U.S. politician of the 1890s and 1900s*David Henderson , senior British Army and, later, RAF officer...
. In 1976 Whitley ran for Congress himself and was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the 95th United States Congress
95th United States Congress
The Ninety-fifth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1977 to January 3, 1979, during the first two years...
.
Re-elected four times (serving in Congress from January 3, 1977 to December 31, 1986). He did not seek re-election in 1986, but retired to political consulting. Whitley died in Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
in 2002.