Homer A. Holt
Encyclopedia
Homer Adams Holt was a West Virginia
lawyer and politician who served as that state's 20th governor from 1937 to 1941. Born in Lewisburg
, West Virginia, he attended the Greenbrier Military School
there and then went on to graduate from Washington and Lee University
in 1918, where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi
fraternity. After serving in the army during World War I, he returned to Washington and Lee in 1920 and studied law, receiving his degree in 1923. In 1924, he married Isabel Wood
.
Holt taught law at Washington and Lee University for two years, and then practiced law in Fayetteville
, West Virginia from 1925–1933. He was elected state attorney general in 1932, and served until becoming governor in 1937. After his term as governor he resumed his career as a lawyer.
Holt was a trustee of Washington and Lee University from 1940 to 1969, when he became a trustee emeritus.
Holt's grandfather Homer A. Holt
(1831–1898) was a lawyer and justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals; he died shortly before Holt's birth and Holt was presumably named in his honor.
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
lawyer and politician who served as that state's 20th governor from 1937 to 1941. Born in Lewisburg
Lewisburg, West Virginia
Lewisburg is a city in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 3,830 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Greenbrier County.-Geography:Lewisburg is located at ....
, West Virginia, he attended the Greenbrier Military School
Greenbrier Military School
The Greenbrier Military School was a boys-only, private, military, boarding high school located in Lewisburg, West Virginia. It was founded in 1812.It closed in 1972...
there and then went on to graduate from Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
in 1918, where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1852. There are over a hundred chapters and colonies at accredited four year colleges and universities throughout the United States. More than 112,000 men have been...
fraternity. After serving in the army during World War I, he returned to Washington and Lee in 1920 and studied law, receiving his degree in 1923. In 1924, he married Isabel Wood
Isabel Wood Holt
Isabel Wood Holt was the wife of former Governor of West Virginia Homer A. Holt and served as that state's First Lady, 1937-1941. She was born January 23, 1899, at Charlottesville, Virginia. In 1924, she married Homer A. Holt...
.
Holt taught law at Washington and Lee University for two years, and then practiced law in Fayetteville
Fayetteville, West Virginia
Fayetteville is a town in and the county seat of Fayette County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,754 at the 2000 census.Fayetteville was listed as one of the 2006 "Top 10 Coolest Small Towns in America" by Budget Travel Magazine ....
, West Virginia from 1925–1933. He was elected state attorney general in 1932, and served until becoming governor in 1937. After his term as governor he resumed his career as a lawyer.
Holt was a trustee of Washington and Lee University from 1940 to 1969, when he became a trustee emeritus.
Holt's grandfather Homer A. Holt
Homer A. Holt (justice)
Homer A. Holt was a West Virginia lawyer and justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals....
(1831–1898) was a lawyer and justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals; he died shortly before Holt's birth and Holt was presumably named in his honor.