James Allen Graham

James Allen Graham (April 27, 1921 – November 20, 2003) was an American teacher and politician who served as the thirteenth North Carolina commissioner of agriculture.^[2]

James Allen Graham
Graham in 1992
13th North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture
In office July 19, 1964 – January 2001[1]
Appointed by	Terry Sanford
Preceded by	Lynton Y. Ballentine
Succeeded by	Meg Scott Phipps
Personal details
Born	(1921-04-07)April 7, 1921 Cleveland, North Carolina
Died	November 20, 2003(2003-11-20) (aged 82)
Political party	Democratic[1]
Spouse	Helen Ida Kirk (October 30, 1942 – her death 1999)
Alma mater	North Carolina State University (BS)
Nickname	Jim

Early life

Graham was born on April 7, 1921, to James Turner and Laura Blanche Allen Graham in Cleveland, North Carolina.^[1][2] Graham was raised in Rowan County, North Carolina, on a 250-acre farm where the family raised cotton, cattle and grain.^[3]

Education

Graham graduated from Cleveland High School in 1938, where he played on the High School football team.^[1] In 1942 Graham graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education^[4] from North Carolina State College^[2] where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.^[5]

Family life

Jim Graham married Helen Ida Kirk, on October 30, 1942, they had two daughters, Alice Kirk Graham, and Laura Constance Graham.^[2]

Commissioner of Agriculture

On July 19, 1964, Graham was appointed North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture, by Governor Terry Sanford, to fill the unexpired term of the late Lynton Y. Ballentine. Graham was elected Commissioner of Agriculture in November 1964 and reelected eight times.^[1][2]

Writings

• Graham, James A.: The Sodfather: A Friend of Agriculture, (1998).