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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 the 16th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina from 1929 to 1933 under Governor Oliver M. Gardner.
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
OurCampaigns.comRichard Tillman Fountain Papers at East Carolina University
1885 births 1945 deaths Lieutenant governors of North Carolina North Carolina lawyers Speakers of the North Carolina House of Representatives Democratic Party members of the North Carolina House of Representatives People from Edgecombe County, North Carolina People from Rocky Mount, North Carolina University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni 20th-century American politicians 20th-century American lawyers {{NorthCarolina-politician-stub
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 the 16th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina from 1929 to 1933 under Governor Oliver M. Gardner.
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
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 North Ca ...
, 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
Josiah William Bailey (September 14, 1873 – December 15, 1946) was an American politician who served as a U.S. senator from the state of North Carolina from 1931 to 1946.
Early life and education
Born in Warrenton, North Carolina, he grew ...
. On February 21, 1945, Fountain died in Rocky Mount at the age of sixty.
References
OurCampaigns.com
1885 births 1945 deaths Lieutenant governors of North Carolina North Carolina lawyers Speakers of the North Carolina House of Representatives Democratic Party members of the North Carolina House of Representatives People from Edgecombe County, North Carolina People from Rocky Mount, North Carolina University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni 20th-century American politicians 20th-century American lawyers {{NorthCarolina-politician-stub