Leon Polk Crawford (April 9, 1890 – April 8, 1975) was an American politician who served as mayor of

Clemson, South Carolina Clemson () is a city in Pickens and Anderson counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina. Clemson is home to Clemson University; in 2015, ''the Princeton Review'' cited the town of Clemson as ranking #1 in the United States for " town-and-gown" ...

. He is credited for being the only

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

to hold elective office in South Carolina during the

Solid South The Solid South or Southern bloc was the electoral voting bloc of the states of the Southern United States for issues that were regarded as particularly important to the interests of Democrats in those states. The Southern bloc existed especial ...

until the 1960s. He ran for United States Senator in

1956 Events January * January 1 – The Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Anglo-Egyptian Condominium ends in Sudan. * January 8 – Operation Auca: Five U.S. evangelical Christian Missionary, missionaries, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, Jim ...

, but lost to Olin B. Johnston.

Early life

Crawford was born on April 9, 1890, in

Hayesville, North Carolina Hayesville is a town in Clay County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 311 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Clay County. Geography Hayesville is located at (35.046630, −83.817883). According to the United States ...

, the son of Millard Crawford and Sarah Lenora Barnard. He attended school at Hiawasee Junior College. In 1932, his first job was serving as Clemson's city clerk. Before he was elected mayor, Crawford led a movement to rename the town, then named Calhoun, to Clemson. In 1943, the change was approved 10–1.

Political career

In June 1946, he was elected mayor of Clemson, South Carolina. At the time, Clemson was incorporated with a population less than 1,000. He served for eighteen years, until January 1965. Several of his accomplishments include the establishment of the first water and sewer departments, and a $400,000 sewer program, one of the first in the town. In 1956, he mounted an unsuccessful campaign, losing to Olin B. Johnston. Crawford netted around 18% of the vote.

Personal life

He eloped and married his wife Ann Tiger. They had six children. He died on April 8, 1975, in Clemson, aged 84, a day shy of his 85th birthday. He is buried at Old Stone Church Cemetery.

Electoral history

, - , , colspan=5 , Democratic hold , -

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Crawford, Leon P. 1890 births 1975 deaths South Carolina Republicans Mayors of places in South Carolina People from Clemson, South Carolina