Richard T. Fountain
Encyclopedia
Richard Tillman Fountain (February 15, 1885 – February 21, 1945) was a North Carolina
politician who served as Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives
in 1927 and as Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
from 1929 to 1933.
Fountain was born in Edgecombe County, North Carolina
, on February 15, 1885, was educated in the public schools of Edgecombe County and the Tarboro Male Academy, and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
from 1905 to 1907. Fountain was admitted to the N.C. Bar and began practicing law in Rocky Mount in 1907. He was appointed judge of the municipal court of the city of Rocky Mount in 1911 and held the office until 1918. He was also a trustee of the Rocky Mount Graded Schools (1917-1935), secretary to the Board of Trustees(1917-1921), and the chairman of the Board (1924-1931).
In 1918 Fountain was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives
, where he served five unopposed terms and was elected speaker in 1927. After serving one term as lieutenant governor (the maximum then allowed), Fountain ran for Governor in 1932, but lost in a Democratic primary runoff to John C.B. Ehringhaus
. From 1934 until 1942 Fountain edited a newspaper, the Rocky Mount Herald. In 1936 and 1942 he ran unsuccessfully in the primary for the U.S. Senate against the incumbent senator, Josiah W. Bailey. On February 21, 1945, Fountain died in Rocky Mount at the age of sixty.
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...
politician who served as Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives
Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives
The Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives is the presiding officer of one of the houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The Speaker is elected by the members of the house when they convene for their regular session in January of each odd-numbered year...
in 1927 and as Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
The Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina is the second highest elected official in the U.S. state of North Carolina and is the only elected official to have powers in both the legislative and executive branches of state government...
from 1929 to 1933.
Fountain was born in Edgecombe County, North Carolina
Edgecombe 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...
, on February 15, 1885, was educated in the public schools of Edgecombe County and the Tarboro Male Academy, and attended 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...
from 1905 to 1907. Fountain was admitted to the N.C. Bar and began practicing law in Rocky Mount in 1907. He was appointed judge of the municipal court of the city of Rocky Mount in 1911 and held the office until 1918. He was also a trustee of the Rocky Mount Graded Schools (1917-1935), secretary to the Board of Trustees(1917-1921), and the chairman of the Board (1924-1931).
In 1918 Fountain was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
, where he served five unopposed terms and was elected speaker in 1927. After serving one term as lieutenant governor (the maximum then allowed), Fountain ran for Governor in 1932, but lost in a Democratic primary runoff to John C.B. Ehringhaus
John C.B. Ehringhaus
John Christoph Blucher Ehringhaus was the Governor of North Carolina from 1933 to 1937.-Biography:He was born on February 5, 1882....
. From 1934 until 1942 Fountain edited a newspaper, the Rocky Mount Herald. In 1936 and 1942 he ran unsuccessfully in the primary for the U.S. Senate against the incumbent senator, Josiah W. Bailey. On February 21, 1945, Fountain died in Rocky Mount at the age of sixty.