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The Life of THAD EURE

Thaddeus Armie (Thad) Eure (November 15, 1899 – July 21, 1993) was a North Carolina political figure who holds the record for longest tenure as North Carolina Secretary of State (1936–1989). Prior to his service as secretary of state, Eure served as mayor of Winton, NC, and as a state legislator. In 1987, President Ronald Reagan recognized Eure as having held public office longer than any official in the nation at that time, with more than 64 years of continuous service. In his later years, he was known as the "oldest rat in the Democratic barn." Ironically, in his first run for the office of Secretary of State, he asked voters to "give a young man a chance." Eure was to become the last remaining living member of the NC legislature to have voted to approve the establishment of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol in 1929. During his tenure as Secretary of State, Eure was asked by Highway Patrol leadership to give the swearing-in oath of office to graduating troopers in each basic school class at the NC Highway Patrol School, which was first conducted at UNC-Chapel Hill and later in Raleigh at the present campus on Garner Road. Eure would proudly address each class and he signed each individual trooper's oath certificate in his trademark green ink. When his physical condition weakened in 1985, then-NC Governor James Martin assigned a trooper to drive Eure to and from work each day and troopers joked that they would stab each other in the back to have a chance to drive Mr. Eure around. Eure also served on the board of trustees of Elon University from 1942 to 1989 (chairman, 1955-1989). He was not a graduate of that institution, instead attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill because he wanted to earn a law degree. Elon did not have a law school until the 21st century. Eure also was credited for the creating the "Long Live Elon" end to each speech and address. He died of complications of gallbladder surgery in 1993. Upon his death his body was laid in state at the North Carolina State Capitol.

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1993.07.24
Photo Album

2018.07.14
Visit to Capital

I was in High School and was on a trip to visit the Capital to learn more about our government  in a keynote speech Secretary Eure said" if you are in the Capital stop by and see me."  Well myself and a young man from Seabrook NC just happened to be in the Capital and we knocked on the Secretays door, his secretary asked if she could help us and we proudly said that the Secretary had invited us to stop by and see him if we were in the Capital  she said he was busy but she would be glad to let him know we were there. To our surprise he came out, invited us in to his office and started giving us a history lesson and reminiscing about his time in office  it was wonderful, something I'll never forget. I was just a teenager in the early 80's but was impressed with the fervor and enthusiasm he showed for his job, our state of NC and politics in general  he gave us each a Tarheel lapel pin and a copy of the Costitution for the Great State of NC. He spent 15 minutes with us and as he escorted us out of his office he smiled and encouraged us to come visit him again. A tall figure in a bowtie full of love for his state....NC

Posted by Bruce C on 07/14/2018

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