Robert White (West Virginia state senator)

Honorable
Robert White
Black and white portrait of a man wearing a suit and tie
West Virginia Blue Book (1931) portrait
Member of the West Virginia Senate
from the 15th district
In office
1931–1935
Serving with Harry P. Henshaw
Lewis H. Thompson
J. E. Helsley
Preceded byFrank B. Robinson
Succeeded byM. O. Rouss
Prosecuting Attorney for Hampshire County, West Virginia
In office
1912–1928
Personal details
Born(1876-05-28)May 28, 1876
Romney, West Virginia, U.S.
DiedAugust 15, 1935 (1935-08-16) (aged 59)
Romney, West Virginia, U.S.
Resting placeIndian Mound Cemetery, Romney
Political partyDemocratic Party
SpouseMabel Glasscock Fitch
Relations
Children
  • John Baker White
  • Mabel Glasgow White Cornwell
  • Elizabeth Steele White
  • Roberta Huston White McFarland
  • Robert White, Jr.
Residence(s)Romney, West Virginia, U.S.
Alma materPotomac Academy
West Virginia University College of Law (LL. B.)
Occupation

Robert White (May 28, 1876 – August 15, 1935) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician in the U.S. state of West Virginia. White served four consecutive terms as the Prosecuting Attorney for Hampshire County, West Virginia (1912–1928), and served one term in the West Virginia Senate (1931–1935), representing the state's 15th Senate district in the 40th and 41st Sessions of the West Virginia Legislature. During the 1933 legislative year, White served as the floor leader for the Democratic Party members of the West Virginia Senate.

White was born in Romney, West Virginia, in 1876 to Hampshire County Clerk of Court Christian Streit White (1839–1917) and his second wife Catharine Steele White (1837–1869) and he was the grandson of Hampshire County Clerk of Court John Baker White (1794–1862). White was educated at Potomac Academy and began his career in public service at the age of 16 as Deputy Clerk of Court in his father's law office. He studied jurisprudence at the West Virginia University College of Law graduating in 1899.

White began practicing law in Romney, and he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Hampshire County in 1912. He was elected to the position four times, and served terms from 1912 to 1928. In addition, White served as the county's Commissioner of School Lands and as one of the county's Chancery Commissioners and Commissioners of Accounts. He was elected to represent the 15th Senate district in the West Virginia Senate in 1930 and served in the senate until 1934. In 1933, White was chairman of the senate's Judiciary Committee and he was also appointed to two special committees: one on economy and efficiency to study state and municipal government spending, and another to investigate the road commission's awarding of a contract for gasoline, oil, and grease to the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey over the Elk Refining Company.

Following a prolonged illness, White died in Romney in 1935 at the age of 59.


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