Arch A. Moore Jr.
Arch Moore | |
|---|---|
Moore in 1969 | |
| 28th & 30th Governor of West Virginia | |
| In office January 14, 1985 – January 16, 1989 | |
| Preceded by | Jay Rockefeller |
| Succeeded by | Gaston Caperton |
| In office January 13, 1969 – January 17, 1977 | |
| Preceded by | Hulett C. Smith |
| Succeeded by | Jay Rockefeller |
| Chair of the National Governors Association | |
| In office September 12, 1971 – June 4, 1972 | |
| Preceded by | Warren E. Hearnes |
| Succeeded by | Marvin Mandel |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from West Virginia's 1st district | |
| In office January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1969 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Mollohan |
| Succeeded by | Bob Mollohan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Arch Alfred Moore Jr. April 16, 1923 Moundsville, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | January 7, 2015 (aged 91) Charleston, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 (including Shelley Moore Capito) |
| Relatives | Moore Capito (grandson) Riley Moore (grandson) |
| Education | West Virginia University (BA, LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1943–1946 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | 334th Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II • European Theater of Operations |
| Awards | Bronze Star Purple Heart Combat Infantryman Badge European Theater of Operations Ribbon, 3 battle stars |
Arch Alfred Moore Jr. (April 16, 1923 – January 7, 2015) was an American lawyer and Republican politician who served as the 28th and 30th governor of West Virginia. He held office from 1969 to 1977 and again from 1985 to 1989, making him the longest-serving governor in the state's history with 12 years in office. Moore began his political career as a state legislator in 1952 and later became a prominent figure in West Virginia politics. He was the father of U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito and the grandfather of U.S. Representative Riley Moore.
Moore's tenure was marked by significant infrastructure development and economic initiatives, but his political career ended in controversy. Amid allegations of corruption, he lost his 1988 reelection bid to Democrat Gaston Caperton. In 1990, he pleaded guilty to five felony charges, leading to a sentence of five years and ten months in federal prison, of which he served over three years. His conviction resulted in disbarment, the forfeiture of his state pension, and a $750,000 settlement paid to the state in 1995.