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Former NC Lt. Gov. Bob Jordan Has Died

N.C. Secretary of State
/
PUBLIC DOMAIN/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Updated Feb. 17

Former North Carolina Lt. Gov. Bob Jordan has died at 87. 

Jordan died "peacefully at home" in Mount Gilead surrounded by family members, according to an obituary posted Sunday by Edwards Funeral Homes.  

“Today we lost a great North Carolinian with the passing of my friend and former Lt. Governor Bob Jordan,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said on social media. “He was passionate about education and made a real difference helping people from all walks of life.”

Jordan, a Democrat, served one term as lieutenant governor, from 1985-1989 under Republican Gov. Jim Martin. The Mount Gilead native was known for promoting access to education during his time in office and also served in the North Carolina Senate from 1977-1985.

Jordan was the Democratic nominee for governor in 1988 but lost to Martin. 

He was instrumental in the passage of a $3.2 billion school facilities act that helped build schools across the state and was an advocate for the North Carolina Teaching Fellows program, according to the Montgomery Herald.

He also established the state Senate Committee on Children and Youth and advocated for the creation of a North Carolina center for missing children, according to his obituary. Additionally, he helped create the Commission on Jobs and Economic Growth and the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center. 

Jordan was also an original member of the UNC System Board of Governors and served on the Board of Trustees at both UNC Charlotte and N.C. State University, the state Board of Education, the Community College Board and the North Carolina Economic Development Board.

Jordan was also an Army veteran, a graduate of N.C. State, and had been married to his wife, Sarah, since 1958. 

He served as president and CEO of the family business, Jordan Lumber & Supply Inc., until earlier this year. 

A memorial for Jordan will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 19 at the West Montgomery High auditorium in Mount Gilead. 

On Monday, Cooper ordered U.S. and North Carolina flags on state facilities to be lowered to half-staff through Wednesday in Jordan's honor.

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Dash joined WFAE as a digital editor for news and engagement in 2019. Before that, he was a reporter for the Savannah Morning News in Georgia, where he covered public safety and the military, among other topics. He also covered county government in Gaston County, North Carolina, for its local newspaper, the Gazette.