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He had a wholesome respect and genuine admiration for both his father
and mother. They were the sort of people who may be described as the "Salt
of the Earth." Both were strong and devout Methodists. His father was a
serious man who did not take lightly his responsibilities as a member of his
local School Board and of the County Commissioners of Durham County. Both
father and mother were interested in politics and felt that it was a high
calling for men of character and honor and devoted to the public weal.

After graduation from the University, William Umstead taught school for
one year in Kinston. He volunteered for service in the Army in World War I
and soon won a Commission as a Lieutenant, His military record was a good
one.

After the war, he immediately took up the study of Law at Trinity
College Law School in his home City of Durham.

He had been practicing law only a short time when he was elected
Prosecuting Attorney in the Recorder's Court of Durham County. In 1926, he
was elected Solicitor of the Tenth Judicial District, comprising the
counties of Durham, Granville, Person, Orange, and Alamance. In this im-
portant office, he grew with experience and soon established a reputation
as an able prosecutor and a public officer who was always conscious of his
official duty. Although a vigorous prosecutor, he drew a straight line
between his duties to prosecute - his duty to represent the facts to the
Court on the one hand and the duty of the Court itself to impose punishment
on the guilty.

In 1932, he was elected to Congress from the Sixth Congressional
District of North Carolina and was later reelected for two successive terms.
After six years in Congress, he retired to enter the private practice of
law in Durham with the Law Firm of Fuller, Reade, Umstead and Fuller.

He could not withdraw completely from the political arena and soon
found himself managing the gubernatorial campaign of Honorable Gregg Cherry
and serving as Chairman of the Democratic Party State Executive Committee.
In 1946, he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Josiah W. Bailey
in the United States Senate and in the campaign of 1948 for the nomination
as Senator he suffered his first and only political defeat. In defeat he
conducted himself with such dignity and grace that he greatly added to
his state-wide popularity.

In 1952, he was elected Governor of North Carolina and only two days
after his inauguration suffered a heart attack from which he never fully
recovered. Notwithstanding his impaired health, he continued to perform
the duties of the office of Governor until his death on Sunday morning,
November 7, 1954, at the age of fifty-nine years.

William Bradley Umstead was truly a great public servant. In every
public office held by him, he conducted himself with a high regard for the
proprieties as well as his duty. His service was of such a high order that
he was able to leave every public office occupied by him in greater public
esteem than when he entered it. He combined the elements of statesmanship
with an extraordinarily high code of personal and official conduct. With
it all, he was courageous and strong in his convictions but never
intolerant. Men respected him because he respected them. He was a leader
whom others delighted to follow.

William Umstead's private life was a fine example of gentlemanly
behavior. He was married to Merle Davis Umstead and his only child, Merle
Bradley Umstead, was a genuine pleasure and delight to him. He was
religious without being hypocritical. He was a loyal churchman, a good
citizen, a great public servant, and a life-long friend of the University
of North Carolina. In his death, the University of North Carolina has lost
a great son and a wonderful friend.

The Trustees record this short account of his life and accomplishments
in the permanent records of the University in gratitude for his services
to the University and all the people of North Carolina, and in the belief
that his life will be an inspiration to all who shall work to make the
University a great source of knowledge and light for unnumbered generations.

L. P. McLendon, Chairman
T. J. Pearsall
Victor S. Bryant

Special Committee.