Elbert N. Carvel

Infobox Officeholder
honorific-prefix =
name = Elbert N. Carvel
honorific-suffix =


imagesize =
small

office = Governor of Delaware
term_start = January 17 1961
term_end = January 19 1965
predecessor = David P. Buckson
successor = Charles L. Terry, Jr.
term_start2 = January 18 1949
term_end2 = January 20 1953
predecessor2 = Walter W. Bacon
successor2 = J. Caleb Boggs
office3 = Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
term_start3 = January 16 1945
term_end3 = January 18 1949
predecessor3 = Isaac J. MacCollum
successor3 = Alexis I. du Pont Bayard
birth_date = birth date|1910|2|9|mf=y
birth_place = Shelter Island, New York
death_date = death date and age|2005|2|6|1910|2|9
death_place = Laurel, Delaware
spouse = Ann Hall Valliant
party = Democratic
residence = Laurel, Delaware
alma_mater =
occupation = businessman
profession =
religion = Episcopalian

Elbert Nostrand "Bert" Carvel (February 9 1910ndash February 6 2005) was an American businessman and politician from Laurel, in Sussex County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served as Lieutenant Governor of Delaware and two non-consecutive terms as Governor of Delaware. The cafeteria in North Laurel Elementary School is named the "Carvel Room", after him.

Early life and family

Carvel was born February 9 1910 at Shelter Island, Long Island, New York, son of Arnold W. & Elizabeth Nostrand Carvel. Kent Island, Maryland was his childhood home. He married Ann Hall Valliant in 1932 and had four children, Edwin, Betty, Ann Hall and Barbara. They were members of St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Laurel. Locating in Laurel, Delaware in 1936, he began his management of the Valliant Fertilizer Company, that would continue throughout his political career.

Governor of Delaware

In his first attempt at public office, Carvel was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1944, defeating Republican Clayton Bunting. He served one term from January 16 1945 to January 18 1949.

Carvel was first elected Governor of Delaware in 1948, defeating Republican Hyland F. George and served one term from January 18 1949 to January 20 1953. He lost a bid for a second term in 1952 to U.S. Representative J. Caleb Boggs. Subsequently, he lost an election for U.S. Senate in 1958 to incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John J. Williams. However, he was elected to a second term as Governor of Delaware in 1960, defeating Republican John W. Rollins, a former Lieutenant Governor. This time he served from January 17 1961 until January 19 1965. Carvel lost a final bid for a U.S. Senate seat in 1964, again to incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John J. Williams.

As only the second Democrat elected governor in 48 years, he was also the first one ever to win two terms. He was opposed to capital punishment and was an early and persistent leader for civil rights legislation in a still politically conservative Delaware. As Governor, he led the successful effort to create a Delaware Supreme Court, the lack of which threatened Delaware’s ability to handle corporate litigation, and thereby ended Delaware’s status as the only state without such a court.

Among his other accomplishments during his tenures in office were the building of the first span of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, developing numerous other roads and highways, establishing the Delaware Public Service Commission and initiating the Delaware State Development Department.

Death and legacy

Carvel died February 6 2005, age 94, in Laurel, Delaware and is buried at the Carvel Family Cemetery, Kent Island, Maryland.

Known as “Big Bert,” Carvel stood 6’ 6” and had what Celia Cohen in "Delaware Grapevine" has described as a “sparkling” style with a husky voice and a "mischievous punch line." He was known as a liberal Democrat from conservative “lower Delaware,” and never hesitated to promote causes of importance to him regardless of their impact on his political career or his fertilizer business. The state office building at 820 North French Street, Wilmington is named for him, as is the University of Delaware Research and Education Center in Georgetown, Delaware.

{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
-bgcolor=#cccccc!colspan=12 style="background: #ccccff;" |Delaware General Assembly
"(sessions while Governor)"
-!Year!Assembly!!Senate Majority!President
"pro tempore"!!House Majority!Speaker
-
1949-1950
115th|
Party shading/Democratic |Democratic
Party shading/Democratic |Vera G. Davis|
Party shading/Republican |Republican
Party shading/Republican |Harvey H. Lawson
-
1951-1952
116th|
Party shading/Democratic |Democratic
Party shading/Democratic |Roy A. Cannon|
Party shading/Republican |Republican
Party shading/Republican |Harvey H. Lawson
-
1961-1962
121st|
Party shading/Democratic |Democratic
Party shading/Democratic |John B. Reilly|
Party shading/Democratic |Democratic
Party shading/Democratic |Sherman W. Tribbitt
-
1963-1964
122nd|
Party shading/Democratic |Democratic
Party shading/Democratic |Curtis W. Steen|
Party shading/Democratic |Democratic
Party shading/Democratic |Sherman W. Tribbitt
-
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

Almanac

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor take office the third Tuesday of January and have four year terms.

{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
-bgcolor=#cccccc!colspan=7 style="background: #ccccff;" | Public Offices
-! Office! Type! Location! Elected! Term began! Term ended! notes
-Party shading/Anti-Jacksonian
Lt. Governor
Executive
Dover
1944
January 16 1945
January 18 1949|
-Party shading/Anti-Jacksonian
Governor
Executive
Dover
1948
January 18 1949
January 20 1953|
-Party shading/Anti-Jacksonian
Governor
Executive
Dover
1960
January 17 1961
January 19 1965|
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
-bgcolor=#cccccc!colspan=12 style="background: #ccccff;" |Election results
-!Year!Office!!Subject!Party!Votes!%!!Opponent!Party!Votes!%
-
1944
Lt. Governor|
Party shading/Democratic |Elbert N. Carvel
Party shading/Democratic |Democratic
Party shading/Democratic |44,524
Party shading/Democratic |51%|
Party shading/Republican |Clayton A. Bunting
Party shading/Republican |Republican
Party shading/Republican |42,595
Party shading/Republican |49%
-
1948
Governor|
Party shading/Democratic |Elbert N. Carvel
Party shading/Democratic |Democratic
Party shading/Democratic |75,339
Party shading/Democratic |54%|
Party shading/Republican |Hyland P. George
Party shading/Republican |Republican
Party shading/Republican |64,996
Party shading/Republican |46%
-
1952
Governor|
Party shading/Democratic |Elbert N. Carvel
Party shading/Democratic |Democratic
Party shading/Democratic |81,772
Party shading/Democratic |48%|
Party shading/Republican |J. Caleb Boggs
Party shading/Republican |Republican
Party shading/Republican |88,977
Party shading/Republican |52%
-
1958
U.S. Senator|
Party shading/Democratic |Elbert N. Carvel
Party shading/Democratic |Democratic
Party shading/Democratic |72,152
Party shading/Democratic |47%|
Party shading/Republican |John J. Williams
Party shading/Republican |Republican
Party shading/Republican |82,280
Party shading/Republican |53%
-
1960
Governor|
Party shading/Democratic |Elbert N. Carvel
Party shading/Democratic |Democratic
Party shading/Democratic |100,792
Party shading/Democratic |52%|
Party shading/Republican |John W. Rollins
Party shading/Republican |Republican
Party shading/Republican |94,043
Party shading/Republican |48%
-
1964
U.S. Senator|
Party shading/Democratic |Elbert N. Carvel
Party shading/Democratic |Democratic
Party shading/Democratic |96,850
Party shading/Democratic |48%|
Party shading/Republican |John J. Williams
Party shading/Republican |Republican
Party shading/Republican |103,782
Party shading/Republican |52%
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

References

*cite book |title=Only in Delaware, Politics and Politicians in the First State |last=Cohen |first=Celia |coauthors= |work= |publisher=Grapevine Publishing |location=Newark, Delaware |pages= |year=2002 |id=
*cite book |title=Charles L. Terry |last=Davis |first=Ned |coauthors= |work= |publisher=Delaware Heritage Press |location=Wilmington, Delaware |pages= |year=2000 |id=0-924177-15-X
*cite book |title=Honest John Williams |last=Hoffecker |first=Carol E. |coauthors= |work= |publisher=University of Delaware Press |location=Newark, Delaware |pages= |year=2000 |id=
*cite book |title=Democracy in Delaware |last=Hoffecker |first=Carol E. |coauthors= |work= |publisher=Cedar Tree Books |location=Wilmington, Delaware |pages= |year=2004 |id=ISBN 1-892142-23-6
*cite book |title=History of Delaware Through its Governors |last=Martin |first=Roger A. |coauthors= |work= |publisher=McClafferty Press |location=Wilmington, Delaware |pages= |year=1984 |id=
*cite book |title=Elbert N. Carvel |last=Martin |first=Roger |coauthors= |work= |publisher=Delaware Heritage Press |location=Wilmington, Delaware |pages= |year=1997 |id=0-924117-08-7
*cite book |title=Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States 1789-1978|last=Sobel |first=Robert |coauthors=J. Racino |publisher=Greenwood Press |location=Westport, CT |year=1988 |id=ISBN 0-930466-00-4

=

* [http://www.state.de.us/research/Tour/information/Governors/govs-38.shtml Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery ] "Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover."

External links

* [http://www.delawaregrapevine.com/4-05carvelmemorial.asp Carvel Memorial ]
* [http://www2.newszap.com/lookingback/postwar/carvel.html Carvel saw it all ]
* [http://www.russpickett.com/history/delgov5.htm#carvel1 Delaware’s Governors ]
* [http://www.delawaregrapevine.com/2-05carvel.asp Gov. Elbert N. Carvel, 1910-2005 ]
* [http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=388b224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD National Governors Association ]
* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/cartier-cascione.html#RKD0H4PH7 The Political Graveyard ]
* [http://www.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2005/feb/carvel020905.html University of Delaware Obituary ]

Places with more information

* [http://www.hsd.org/ Historical Society of Delaware ] 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware [phone]
* [http://www.lib.udel.edu/ University of Delaware Library ] 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware [phone]