Lawrence H. Fountain
Encyclopedia
Lawrence H. Fountain generally known as L.H. Fountain, was a Democratic
U.S. representative
from North Carolina
from 1953 to 1983.
and at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
where he received his A. B. degree in 1934 and his Juris Doctor
degree. He was admitted to the North Carolina Bar following graduation from law school
in 1936.
He practiced law
in Tarboro, North Carolina
and was active in statewide Democratic Party politics until March 1942 when he entered the United States Army
as a private in the infantry. He rose through the ranks and was released from service as a major in the Judge Advocate General
’s Office on March 4, 1946. Fountain then returned to his law practice in Tarboro.
In civilian life, he remained a member of the U. S. Army Reserve and later retired as a lieutenant colonel
.
where he served until 1952 when he was elected to the 83rd Congress as Representative from the Second Congressional District of North Carolina. He was reelected to each Congress through the 97th, at which time he did not seek reelection.
Fountain was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson
as a United States Delegate to the 22nd Session in 1967 of the United Nations General Assembly
. In this capacity, he served as assistant to United States Ambassador Arthur J. Goldberg during the Security Council debate following the June 6th Arab–Israeli Six Day War.
He led the fight in 1978 for the creation of the first independent Presidentially-appointed inspector general
(“watchdog”) in the former Department of Health, Education and Welfare, and worked for the establishment of inspectors general in every key Federal department and agency. Each inspector general plays a significant role in curbing waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.
From time to time, he served on various subcommittees of both the Committee on Government Operations and the Committee on Foreign Affairs. For 14 years, Fountain was chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Near Eastern Affairs. For 28 years he was chairman of the House Government Operations Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations. He conducted hundreds of investigations into food and drug safety, and led the effort to create inspectors general in federal departments and agencies.
From 1981 to 1982, he was a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Federalism
. The committee had the responsibility of advising the President on ways to restore proper relationships between federal, state and local governments.
attendance record for more than eighty years. He served as a trustee of the National Presbyterian Church from 1961 to 1964 and again from 1977 to 1980. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the East Carolina Council
of the Boy Scouts of America
, and was a member of the local and other Bar Associations, the Elks, and Kiwanis
Club. He served as lieutenant governor of the Sixth Division of the Carolinas District of Kiwanis International. He was also a Jaycee and received the Distinguished Service Award (Man of the Year) of the Tarboro Jaycees in 1948.
A lifelong advocate of education, Fountain was a charter member of the Board of Trustees of St. Andrews Presbyterian College
of Laurinburg from 1955 through 1971. He was reelected to the board in 1972 and served until 1974.
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...
U.S. representative
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...
from 1953 to 1983.
Early life
Fountain was educated in the public schools of Edgecombe CountyEdgecombe County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 55,606 people, 20,392 households, and 14,804 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile . There were 24,002 housing units at an average density of 48 per square mile...
and at 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...
where he received his A. B. degree in 1934 and his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree. He was admitted to the North Carolina Bar following graduation from law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
in 1936.
He practiced law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
in Tarboro, North Carolina
Tarboro, North Carolina
Tarboro is a city located in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. It is part of the Rocky Mount, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the town had a total population of 13,121. It is the county seat of Edgecombe County. Tarboro is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region...
and was active in statewide Democratic Party politics until March 1942 when he entered 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...
as a private in the infantry. He rose through the ranks and was released from service as a major in the Judge Advocate General
Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, refers to the legal branch or specialty of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called Judge Advocates. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard do not maintain separate JAG Corps...
’s Office on March 4, 1946. Fountain then returned to his law practice in Tarboro.
In civilian life, he remained a member of the U. S. Army Reserve and later retired as a lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
.
Service in public office
In 1947, Fountain was elected to the North Carolina SenateNorth 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...
where he served until 1952 when he was elected to the 83rd Congress as Representative from the Second Congressional District of North Carolina. He was reelected to each Congress through the 97th, at which time he did not seek reelection.
Fountain was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
as a United States Delegate to the 22nd Session in 1967 of the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
. In this capacity, he served as assistant to United States Ambassador Arthur J. Goldberg during the Security Council debate following the June 6th Arab–Israeli Six Day War.
He led the fight in 1978 for the creation of the first independent Presidentially-appointed inspector general
Inspector General
An Inspector General is an investigative official in a civil or military organization. The plural of the term is Inspectors General.-Bangladesh:...
(“watchdog”) in the former Department of Health, Education and Welfare, and worked for the establishment of inspectors general in every key Federal department and agency. Each inspector general plays a significant role in curbing waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.
From time to time, he served on various subcommittees of both the Committee on Government Operations and the Committee on Foreign Affairs. For 14 years, Fountain was chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Near Eastern Affairs. For 28 years he was chairman of the House Government Operations Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations. He conducted hundreds of investigations into food and drug safety, and led the effort to create inspectors general in federal departments and agencies.
From 1981 to 1982, he was a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Federalism
Federalism
Federalism is a political concept in which a group of members are bound together by covenant with a governing representative head. The term "federalism" is also used to describe a system of the government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and...
. The committee had the responsibility of advising the President on ways to restore proper relationships between federal, state and local governments.
Personal life
Fountain was a Presbyterian Elder and had a perfect Sunday SchoolSunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
attendance record for more than eighty years. He served as a trustee of the National Presbyterian Church from 1961 to 1964 and again from 1977 to 1980. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the East Carolina Council
Scouting in North Carolina
Scouting in North Carolina has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.-Early history :...
of the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
, and was a member of the local and other Bar Associations, the Elks, and Kiwanis
Kiwanis
Kiwanis International is an international, coeducational service club founded in 1915. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Current membership is 240,000 members in 7,700 clubs in 80 nations...
Club. He served as lieutenant governor of the Sixth Division of the Carolinas District of Kiwanis International. He was also a Jaycee and received the Distinguished Service Award (Man of the Year) of the Tarboro Jaycees in 1948.
A lifelong advocate of education, Fountain was a charter member of the Board of Trustees of St. Andrews Presbyterian College
St. Andrews Presbyterian College
St. Andrews University, formerly St. Andrews Presbyterian College, is a private, Presbyterian, four-year liberal arts college in Laurinburg, North Carolina....
of Laurinburg from 1955 through 1971. He was reelected to the board in 1972 and served until 1974.
Awards
- North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth 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...
Citizens Association Distinguished Public Service Award (1971) - University of North Carolina School of Medicine Distinguished Service Award (1973)
- Association of American University Presses Distinguished Service to Higher Education and the Scholarly Community Award (1975)
- National League of CitiesNational League of CitiesThe National League of Cities is an American advocacy organization representing 19,000 cities, towns, and villages, and encompassing 49 state municipal leagues....
Special Citation for Distinguished Congressional Service (1976) - Association of Federal Investigators Leadership and Distinguished Service Award (1978).
- In 1982, the North Carolina League of Municipalities, meeting in Annual Convention, passed a resolution of deep appreciation and commendation to Fountain for “continued efforts to assist local governments…throughout the nation”
- Also in 1982, the Association of Federal Investigators honored Congressman Fountain for the second time in five years with an award for “unstinting support for law enforcement and investigation, and for his outstanding career in public service to the American people.”