Arch Moore West Virigina

Arch Alfred Moore Jr. was born in Moundsville, West Virginia on April 16, 1923. A Republican, he began his political career as a state legislator in 1952. In 1956, he won the first of six consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1968 he ran for, and was elected, governor of West Virginia, serving two terms. In the gubernatorial election of 1972, his Democratic opponent was John Davison “Jay” Rockefeller IV, great-grandson of John D. Rockefeller, the co-founder of Standard Oil. Though term limits prevented him from running for a third consecutive term, Moore ran once again and was appointed to a third term in 1984. He was defeated in 1988, while seeking a fourth term. However, he is the only person to serve three terms as governor of West Virginia.   

His governorship was characterized by road building, investments in public education, welfare, and mental health. Nevertheless, Moore’s tenure also engendered criticism and corruption charges. In 1990, Moore was found guilty on federal charges of mail fraud, tax fraud, extortion, and obstruction of justice. He served three years and was released in 1993. Arch Moore died on January 7, 2015.