Robert Broadnax Glenn, class of 1875

Robert Broadnax Glenn was born in Rockingham County, NC to Chalmers L. and Annie S. Dodge Glenn. His father died in the Civil War, and Glenn was raised by an uncle. He married Nina Deaderick on January 8, 1878, and they had two children: Chalmers L and Rebecca.

James Eubert Holshouser, Jr

James Eubert Holshouser, Jr, class of 1956

James Eubert Holshouser, Jr was born in Boone, NC on October 8, 1934 to James Eubert Holshouser and Virginia (Dayvault) Holshouser. He married Patricia Hollingswoth in 1961 and they have one daughter: Virginia Walker.

Holshouser recieved a BS in History from Davidson College in 1956 and went on to the University of North Carolina Law School at Chapel Hill, where he served as class president.

After attaining his law degree, he returned to Boone and joined his father's law firm, Holshouser and Holshouser. While working in Boone he became involved in numerous local improvement organizations.

In 1962 Holshouser was elected to the N.C. House of Representatives on a Republican platform. He served four terms, during which he also served on the Board of Directors for both the Davidson College Alumni Association and the UNC Law Alumni Association.

Holshouser was elected Secretary of the Republican Joint House-Senate caucus in 1963 and continued to rise in the party until in 1966 he was elected to a five-year term as State Chairman of the Republican Party. At age 31, he was the youngest chairman-elect in state history and would serve for three terms. During his first term the largest Republican Legislative delegation in history was elected.

In 1973 Holshouser was elected Governor of North Carolina, as the first Republican governor of North Carolina in 72 years and the youngest Chief Executive since the nineteenth century. After his term in office Holshouser was involved in such organizations as the Davidson College Board of Trustees, UNC Board of Governors, and Ronald Reagan's presidental campaign team.

In his life, Holshouser received numerous honors, such as an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree from Appalachian State University in 1974, an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree from Davidson College in 1974, and the UNC School of Law Distinguished Alumni award in 1981.

James Grubbs Martin as a professor [1960-1972]

James Grubbs Martin, class of 1957

James Grubbs Martin is the son of Reverend and Mrs. Arthur M. Martin. He married Dorothy (McAuley) Martin and they have three children: James G. Jr, Emily, and Benson.

Martin received his BS degree from Davidson College in 1957 and went on to receive his PhD from Princeton University.

Martin taught chemistry at Davidson College from 1960-1972. He later described himself as a “very tough” instructor. Also in the 1960s, Martin played tuba for five seasons with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.

He began his political career while teaching at Davidson College by trying to mobilize town Republicans. Martin ran for town council in 1963 and lost, but three years later he won the race for County Commissioner and served for three terms.

In 1972 he ran successfully for a seat in the US House of Representatives, which he held for six terms. In 1982, proposed the only budget that year that did not have a deficit (didn’t pass by 18 votes). During his time, he served as chairman of the House Republican Research Committee.

Martin was inaugurated as Governor of North Carolina in 1985. He held the office for two terms, becoming the first Republican to serve two terms as Governor of North Carolina. During his second term as Governor, Martin announced his intention to retire from politics at the end of his term.

By 1996 Martin was serving as VP for research at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, and in 2005 he accepted a request from County Manager Harry Jones to lead a committee on overcrowded schools.