19 Facts About Jim Broyhill

James Thomas Broyhill was an American businessman and politician from North Carolina.

Jim Broyhill represented much of the Foothills region of the state in the US House of Representatives from 1963 to 1986, and served in the US Senate for nearly four months in 1986.

Jim Broyhill had a career in the furniture industry before entering politics.

Jim Broyhill was born in Lenoir, North Carolina, the youngest of four children related to furniture magnate James Edgar Jim Broyhill and the former Satie Hunt.

The senior Jim Broyhill was a member of the Republican National Committee for 28 years.

Jim Broyhill was active in several state industry associations, as well as a civic leader in Lenoir.

Jim Broyhill believed there needed to be a more competitive election landscape in North Carolina, and that he could play a role in strengthening the Republican party by running for office himself.

Jim Broyhill made his first run for elected office in 1962 for North Carolina's 9th congressional district.

Jim Broyhill was the unexpected beneficiary of redistricting after the 1960 census, which cost North Carolina a congressional district.

However, the plan backfired disastrously when Jonas handily defeated 8th district incumbent Alvin Paul Kitchin and Jim Broyhill defeated Alexander by just under one percentage point in an upset.

Jim Broyhill won reelection by 11 points in the midst of the gigantic Democratic landslide victory of 1964, in which Lyndon B Johnson carried 87 of North Carolina's 100 counties.

Jim Broyhill won reelection 10 times thereafter, never receiving less than 54 percent of the vote and only winning by less than 10 points twice in what became the most Republican district in North Carolina.

Jim Broyhill later served as chairman of the North Carolina Economic Development Commission and then as secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

Jim Broyhill retired from politics in 1991 but was appointed to the board of trustees of Appalachian State University two years later.

Jim Broyhill was inducted into the North Carolina Republican Party Hall of Fame and the Lenoir, North Carolina Post Office was renamed in his honor.

Jim Broyhill had a daughter, Marilyn Beach, and two sons, Ed and Phillip.

Jim Broyhill had six grandchildren; Elizabeth Broyhill Morris, James Broyhill, Penn Broyhill, Laura Beach Dugan, Lindsay Beach Grdina, and Ashley Beach Brooks.

Jim Broyhill's son Ed was a candidate for the Republican nomination in the 5th congressional district in 2004.

Jim Broyhill died at Arbor Acres United Methodist Retirement Community from complications from congestive heart failure in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on February 18,2023, age 95.