C. Bascom Slemp

Campbell Bascom Slemp (September 4 1870 – August 7 1943) was an American Republican politician, and a six-time United States congressman from Virginia's 9th congressional district from 1907 to 1922. As a philanthropist, Slemp set up the "Slemp Foundation", which provides gifts and scholarships to schools and colleges in Southwestern Virginia.

Early life

Slemp was born at Turkey Cove, Virginia in Lee County to Campbell Slemp, a United States Representative from the 9th district of Virginia from 1903 to 1907.

He attended the public schools of rural Southwest Virginia at "The Seminary" in Turkey Cove. In 1891, he graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, and then studied law at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

Early career

Slemp served as a professor of mathematics at Virginia Military Institute for several years. In 1901, after being admitted to the Virginia bar, he resigned his position at the Institute to set up a law practice in Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Virginia.

Political career

In 1905, Slemp was elected as chairman of the Republican State Committee and served until 1918 at which point he was elected to the Republican National Committee.

Campbell Slemp, his father, served Virginia’s 9th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1903 to 1907. After the death of his father, Slemp was elected to fill the vacancy. He was reelected to the position six times, serving from 1907 until 1922, at which point he declined to be a candidate for re-election.

On September 4 1923, Slemp was appointed secretary to President Calvin Coolidge and served until March 4 1925.

Return to rural life

After leaving the Coolidge administration, Slemp returned to his law practice in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. He remained a prominent member of the community and southwest Virginia political scene until his death in Knoxville, Tennessee on August 7 1943. He was later buried in the family cemetery at Turkey Cove, Virginia.

Legacy

As a philanthropist, Slemp continues to touch the lives of countless youth. He set up the Slemp Foundation, which provides gifts to libraries, schools and colleges in Southwestern Virginia. Many of the "Lonesome Pine Regional Library" (which serves Lee and Wise Counties, Virginia) locations are named in his honor.

The Slemp Scholarship, named in honor of the late congressman, is awarded to outstanding college students who graduated from schools in Lee, Scott, and Wise Counties, Virginia.

In October 2003, the "C. Bascom Slemp Student Center" was opened on the campus of the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. This $10.9 million, 46,234 square-foot structure was funded by student fees and a $2.5 million gift from the C. Bascon Slemp Foundation. Planning for the student center began eight and a half years before the project was completed.