Saxon Winston Holt (March 25, 1871 – March 31, 1940), a Democrat, served as a member of the Virginia Senate and as the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Virginia from 1938 until 1940.
Saxon W. Holt | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Holt, c. 1936 | |
| 24th Lieutenant Governor of Virginia | |
| In office January 19, 1938 – March 31, 1940 | |
| Governor | James H. Price |
| Preceded by | James H. Price |
| Succeeded by | William M. Tuck |
| President pro tempore of the Senate of Virginia | |
| In office January 14, 1920 – January 12, 1938 | |
| Preceded by | C. Harding Walker |
| Succeeded by | Henry T. Wickham |
| Member of the Virginia Senate from the 33rd district | |
| In office January 8, 1936 – January 12, 1938 | |
| Preceded by | William A. Wright |
| Succeeded by | Alexander L. Bivins |
| Member of the Virginia Senate from the 34th district | |
| In office January 9, 1924 – January 8, 1936 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas J. Downing |
| Succeeded by | Hundson Cary |
| Member of the Virginia Senate from the 36th district | |
| In office January 13, 1904 – January 9, 1924 | |
| Preceded by | None (new district) |
| Succeeded by | Morgan R. Mills |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Saxon Winston Holt March 25, 1871 Surry County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | March 31, 1940 (aged 69) Newport News, Virginia, U.S. |
| Resting place | Surry County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Maria Davis Reynolds
(m. 1904) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Henry W. Holt (brother) |
| Occupation |
|
Early life
editSaxon Winston Holt was born on March 25, 1871, at the family farm in Surry County, Virginia, to Virginia Henry (née Winston) and Dr. Micajah Quincy Holt. His father practiced medicine in Surry County and also worked as a farmer. His grandfather Micajah Holt was a captain in the U.S. Army and served in the War of 1812. Holt was educated in county schools and at Bethel Academy.[1][2]
Career
editAt the age of 20, Holt became a shipping clerk at a grocery company in Richmond. After two years, he worked as a tobacco salesman for Butler & Bosher, a Richmond firm.[1][2] In the 1890s, he moved to Newport News and started S. W. Holt and Co., a wholesale grocers firm, with Arthur St. Clair Butler. Butler later sold his interest to Holt's brother Robert P. Holt. Holt continued working with the firm until his death.[1][2] He was vice president of First National Bank.[2]
Holt served as a member of the Virginia Senate, representing Elizabeth City, York, Warwick and Newport News, from 1904 to 1938.[3][4][5] He served on various committees throughout his career, including finance, general laws, social and moral welfare, privileges and elections, and the steering committee. He served as president pro tempore of the senate the last 15 years of his legislative service.[6] He was an advocate for hospital improvements and supported the legislation for the Catawba Sanatorium.[1]
Holt served as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia from January 19, 1938, until his death.[7]
Personal life
editHolt married Maria Davis Reynolds, daughter of Mary A. (née Watkins) and Henry S. Reynolds, of Norfolk in 1904. They had one daughter and two sons, Maria, Saxon W. Jr. and Micajah Quincy. They lived in Newport News.[2][7] His brother was judge Henry W. Holt.[7] He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.[2]
Holt died on March 31, 1940, at his home on Huntington Avenue in Newport News. He was buried in a family plot in Surry County.[1][5]
Electoral history
edit| Date | Election | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant Governor of Virginia | |||||
| Nov 2, 1937[8] | General | Saxon W. Holt | Democratic | 121,919 | 81.96 |
| Samuel A. Reynolds | Republican | 24,758 | 16.64 | ||
| Robert L. Alter | Prohibition | 2,085 | 1.40 | ||
| James H. Price did not seek reelection; seat stayed Democratic | |||||
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Funeral Today at Newport News for Lieutenant-Governor Saxon W. Holt". The Roanoke Times. 1940-04-02. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-09-27 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f "Saxon W. Holt, Elder Virginia Statesman, Dies". Norfolk Virginian-Pilot. 1940-04-01. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-09-27 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Swem, Earl G. (1918). Register of the General Assembly of Virginia, 1776–1918. Richmond: Virginia State Library. pp. 223–229, 388. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
- ^ Dodson, E. Griffith (1939). The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia, 1919-1939: Register. Richmond: Virginia State Library. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
- ^ a b "Saxon W. Holt, Sr., Veteran Virginia Statesman, Dies". Norfolk Virginian-Pilot. 1940-04-01. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-09-27 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Lieutenant Governor Dies". The News. 1940-04-01. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-09-27 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Saxon W. Holt Rites Tuesday". Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch. 1940-04-01. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-09-27 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "1937 Lieutenant Governor General Election". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
External links
edit
- Saxon W. Holt at The Virginia Elections and State Elected Officials Database Project, 1776-2007