Robert Byrd Jordan III (October 11, 1932[1] – February 16, 2020) was an American politician who served as the 29th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina for one term (1985–1989) under Governor James G. Martin and who unsuccessfully ran for Governor of North Carolina in 1988.

Robert B. Jordan
29th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
In office
January 5, 1985 – January 7, 1989
GovernorJames G. Martin
Preceded byJames C. Green
Succeeded byJim Gardner
Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 17th district
In office
January 1, 1977 – January 1, 1985
Preceded byMary Odom
Succeeded byJ. Richard Conder
Personal details
Born
Robert Byrd Jordan III

(1932-10-11)October 11, 1932
Mount Gilead, North Carolina
DiedFebruary 16, 2020(2020-02-16) (aged 87)
Mount Gilead, North Carolina
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseSarah Cole
Alma materNorth Carolina State University (BS)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1954–1956

Jordan, a native of Mount Gilead, North Carolina, graduated from North Carolina State University in 1954 with honors in forestry.[2][3] Prior to being elected lieutenant governor, Jordan ran his family's lumber company and served in the North Carolina Senate as a Democrat from 1976 to 1984.[citation needed]

In 1984, he defeated state House Speaker Carl J. Stewart, Jr. in a hard-fought Democratic primary, then defeated Republican John H. Carrington in the general election to become North Carolina's 29th lieutenant governor. He easily won the 1988 gubernatorial nomination but lost the general election to incumbent James G. Martin.[citation needed]

An advocate of education, Jordan has served on the North Carolina Board of Education, the state Board of Community Colleges, and the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors. On May 20, 2009, Jordan was elected chairman of the Trustees of North Carolina State University to serve the remaining term of McQueen Campbell, who resigned in conjunction with the investigation of Mike Easley.[citation needed]

Jordan Hall at North Carolina State University was named after his family.[3]

Jordan died on February 16, 2020, at his home in Mount Gilead, North Carolina.[4]

References

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  1. ^ (U.S.), National Conference of Lieutenant Governors (19 June 1987). "The National Conference of Lieutenant Governors ... Biographical Sketches and Portraits". National Conference of Lieutenant Governors – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "North Carolina manual [serial]".
  3. ^ a b "Jordan Hall". www.ncsu.edu.
  4. ^ "Former Lt. Gov. Bob Jordan dies at 87". WRAL-TV. Capitol Broadcasting Corporation. February 16, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
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North Carolina Senate
Preceded by Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 17th district

1977–1985
Served alongside: James Banks Garrison, Aaron Plyler
Succeeded by
J. Richard Conder
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
1984
Succeeded by
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of North Carolina
1988
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
1985-1989
Succeeded by