James Forrester (politician)
Encyclopedia
James S. Forrester was a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly
representing the state's forty-first senate district, including constituents in Iredell
, Gaston
and Lincoln
counties. A physician from Stanley, North Carolina
, Forrester died while serving his eleventh term in the state senate
, in which he also served as Deputy President Pro Tempore.
, Scotland
; he graduated from New Hanover High School
in 1954. Forrester earned a bachelor's degree in science from Wake Forest University
in 1958 and medical degrees from the Bowman Gray School of Medicine (1962) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
(1978). On March 12, 1960, he married Mary Frances All; they had four children. Forrester also served in the North Carolina Air National Guard
, and participated in the Vietnam War
. Forrester ran a private medical practice in Gaston County, North Carolina
. Forrester died on October 31, 2011 at age 74.
He engendered notoriety when he became the chief sponsor of the constitutional amendment for banning same-sex marriage in North Carolina in 2011. He had introduced this amendment at every session since 2004. After the Republicans won control of the General Assembly, Forrester's amendment eventually passed both houses and was sent to the plebiscite for a 2012 referendum.
Forrester came under fire for allegedly misrepresenting his medical credentials. He claimed to be a member of the American Medical Association
, a fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine
and an associate fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association
. The ACPM revealed that Forrester was not a member of the ACPM, let alone a fellow. Later that day, Laura Leslie of WRAL-TV
in Raleigh
learned that Forrester was not an associate fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association either. The next day, Leslie reported that Forrester was not a member of the American Medical Association. Senator Forrester's response to this was, “If there’s anything falsified on my records it was inadvertently done.” He added, “The gay and lesbian community is looking for anything they can to discredit me.”
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
representing the state's forty-first senate district, including constituents in Iredell
Iredell County, North Carolina
Iredell County, along with Moore County in the eastern Piedmont, are among a very few counties in the United States sharing borders with nine adjacent counties.-Demographics:...
, Gaston
Gaston County, North Carolina
Gaston County is a county located just west of Charlotte in the southern Piedmont in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third largest county, by population, in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area, officially designated the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of...
and Lincoln
Lincoln County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 71,498 people, 24,041 households, and 18,174 families residing in the county. The population density was 214 people per square mile . There were 25,717 housing units at an average density of 86 per square mile...
counties. A physician from Stanley, North Carolina
Stanley, North Carolina
Stanley is a town in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,053 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Stanley is located at ....
, Forrester died while serving his eleventh term in the state senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
, in which he also served as Deputy President Pro Tempore.
Personal life
Forrester was born in AberdeenAberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
; he graduated from New Hanover High School
New Hanover High School
New Hanover High School is a high school located in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina. New Hanover High is now the oldest present high school built in Wilmington. Recently the original building underwent a complete renovation to update the 1919 school to the 21st century. New Hanover is also the...
in 1954. Forrester earned a bachelor's degree in science from 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...
in 1958 and medical degrees from the Bowman Gray School of Medicine (1962) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
(1978). On March 12, 1960, he married Mary Frances All; they had four children. Forrester also served in the North Carolina Air National Guard
North Carolina Air National Guard
The North Carolina Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is, along with the North Carolina Army National Guard, an element of the North Carolina National Guard...
, and participated in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Forrester ran a private medical practice in Gaston County, North Carolina
Gaston County, North Carolina
Gaston County is a county located just west of Charlotte in the southern Piedmont in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third largest county, by population, in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area, officially designated the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of...
. Forrester died on October 31, 2011 at age 74.
Political career
Forrester was elected a Gaston County commissioner in 1982. In 1990, Forrester was elected to the North Carolina Senate.He engendered notoriety when he became the chief sponsor of the constitutional amendment for banning same-sex marriage in North Carolina in 2011. He had introduced this amendment at every session since 2004. After the Republicans won control of the General Assembly, Forrester's amendment eventually passed both houses and was sent to the plebiscite for a 2012 referendum.
Forrester came under fire for allegedly misrepresenting his medical credentials. He claimed to be a member of the American Medical Association
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association , founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of medical doctors and medical students in the United States.-Scope and operations:...
, a fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine
American College of Preventive Medicine
Founded in 1954, the American College of Preventive Medicine is a U.S.-based physician organization focused on practice, research, publication, and teaching of evidence-based preventive medicine...
and an associate fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association
Aerospace Medical Association
The Aerospace Medical Association is the largest professional organization in the fields of aviation, space, and environmental medicine. The AsMA membership includes aerospace and hyperbaric medicine specialists, scientists, flight nurses, physiologists, and researchers from all over the world.-...
. The ACPM revealed that Forrester was not a member of the ACPM, let alone a fellow. Later that day, Laura Leslie of WRAL-TV
WRAL-TV
WRAL-TV, virtual channel 5 , is a television station in Raleigh, North Carolina. WRAL-TV has been the flagship station of Capitol Broadcasting Company since its inception, and is currently the CBS affiliate for the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill/Fayetteville area, known collectively as the Triangle...
in Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
learned that Forrester was not an associate fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association either. The next day, Leslie reported that Forrester was not a member of the American Medical Association. Senator Forrester's response to this was, “If there’s anything falsified on my records it was inadvertently done.” He added, “The gay and lesbian community is looking for anything they can to discredit me.”