Robert T. Ashmore

Robert Thomas Ashmore (February 22, 1904 – October 5, 1989) was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina, cousin of John D. Ashmore.

Robert T. Ashmore
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 4th district
In office June 2, 1953 – January 3, 1969
Preceded by	Joseph R. Bryson
Succeeded by	James R. Mann
Personal details
Born	Robert Thomas Ashmore (1904-02-22)February 22, 1904 Greenville, South Carolina, US
Died	October 5, 1989(1989-10-05) (aged 85) Greenville, South Carolina, US
Political party	Democratic Party
Alma mater	Furman University
Occupation	Attorney
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch/service	United States Army; United States Army Reserves
Years of service	1942–1946; 1946–1955
Rank	Colonel
Battles/wars	World War II

Born on a farm near Greenville, South Carolina, Ashmore attended the public schools of Greenville. He graduated from Furman University Law School, Greenville, South Carolina, in 1927. While a student he engaged in agricultural work, retail sales, and as a substitute rural mail carrier. He was admitted to the bar in January 1928 and engaged in the practice of law in Greenville, South Carolina. He served as solicitor of Greenville County Court from 1930–1934, and then as a solicitor of the thirteenth judicial circuit of South Carolina from 1936–1953. During World War II, while on official leave from duties as a solicitor, Ashmore volunteered for service in the United States Army in December 1942, serving in the United States and overseas until discharged from active duty in May 1946, as a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve. He was promoted to colonel in 1955.

Ashmore was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-third Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Joseph R. Bryson. He was reelected to the Eighty-fourth and to the six succeeding Congresses (June 2, 1953 – January 3, 1969), during which time he was a signatory to the 1956 Southern Manifesto^[1] that opposed the desegregation of public schools ordered by the Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education. Ashmore voted against the Civil Rights Acts of 1957,^[2] 1960,^[3] 1964,^[4] and 1968^[5] as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution^[6] and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.^[7] He was not a candidate for reelection in 1968 to the Ninety-first Congress. He resumed the practice of law.

He served as member of the board of South Carolina Appalachian Regional Planning and Development Commission (later South Carolina Appalachian Council of Governments) from 1970 to 1989, and chairman from 1970 to 1972. Ashmore was also elected to the Common Cause National Governing Board in 1973. He was a resident of Greenville, South Carolina, until his death there on October 5, 1989. He was interred in White Oak Baptist Church Cemetery, Greenville, South Carolina.

References

1. "Senate – March 12, 1956" (PDF). Congressional Record. 102 (4). U.S. Government Printing Office: 4459–4461.
2. "HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957". GovTrack.us.
3. "HR 8601. PASSAGE".
4. "H.R. 7152. PASSAGE".
5. "TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES FOR … -- House Vote #113 -- Aug 16, 1967". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
6. "S.J. RES. 29. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN THE USE OF POLL TAX AS A REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS". GovTrack.us.
7. "TO PASS H.R. 6400, THE 1965 VOTING RIGHTS ACT".

Sources

• United States Congress. "Robert T. Ashmore (id: A000223)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Robert T. Ashmore Papers can be found at South Carolina Political Collections at the University of South Carolina.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Joseph R. Bryson	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 4th congressional district 1953 – 1969	Succeeded by James R. Mann