Mills Godwin
Mills Godwin | |
|---|---|
Godwin in 1974 | |
| 60th and 62nd Governor of Virginia | |
| In office January 12, 1974 – January 14, 1978 | |
| Lieutenant | John N. Dalton |
| Preceded by | Linwood Holton |
| Succeeded by | John N. Dalton |
| In office January 15, 1966 – January 17, 1970 | |
| Lieutenant | Fred G. Pollard |
| Preceded by | Albertis Harrison |
| Succeeded by | Linwood Holton |
| 28th Lieutenant Governor of Virginia | |
| In office January 13, 1962 – January 15, 1966 | |
| Governor | Albertis Harrison |
| Preceded by | Allie E. S. Stephens |
| Succeeded by | Fred G. Pollard |
| Member of the Virginia Senate from the 5th district | |
| In office December 2, 1952 – January 10, 1962 | |
| Preceded by | Allie E. S. Stephens |
| Succeeded by | William V. Rawlings |
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates for Nansemond and Suffolk | |
| In office January 14, 1948 – December 2, 1952 | |
| Preceded by | Willis E. Cohoon |
| Succeeded by | Willis E. Cohoon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mills Edwin Godwin Jr. November 19, 1914 Chuckatuck, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | January 30, 1999 (aged 84) Newport News, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (1973–1999) |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic (before 1973) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Becky Godwin |
| Education | Old Dominion University University of Virginia (LLB) |
| Signature | |
Mills Edwin Godwin Jr. (November 19, 1914 – January 30, 1999) was an American politician who was the 60th and 62nd governor of Virginia for two non-consecutive terms, from 1966 to 1970 and from 1974 to 1978. Godwin was the first person to be elected governor of any state as a Democrat and a Republican.
He was the last Virginia governor elected as a part of the Byrd Machine, the conservative Democratic establishment that dominated the state's politics for over three decades. He was succeeded by Linwood Holton, the first non-Democratic governor in over 80 years. By 1973, when he ran for a second term, Godwin had become a Republican, as the dominance of the Democrats in Virginia politics receded and the Byrd political machine had disintegrated.