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Shelby was home to several political leaders in the first half of the 20th century--a group of powerful men that became known as the "Shelby Dynasty." These men wielded power through the local, State and Federal governments. The most notable men of Shelby's political leadership were brothers James and Edwin Yates Webb, O. Max Gardner and Clyde R. Hoey. James L. Webb began his career in government as a state Senator. Starting in 1882, Webb served as District Solicitor, and then in 1894 was appointed as a Superior Court Judge. E.Y. Webb, James's younger brother, served in the State General Assembly and then moved to Washington, D.C. were he served as Congressman for North Carolina's Ninth District for 26 years. He rose to Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and his legislative efforts included helping draft the constitutional amendment for prohibition, introducing the bill to charter the Boy Scouts of America, promoting regulations for food and drugs and co-authoring an antitrust bill. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson appointed E.Y. Webb as a Federal Judge. He served in that capacity for 28 years.
O. Max Gardner served as lieutenant governor for a term in the 1910s and then ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1920. Gardner was not swayed and was elected governor of North Carolina in 1928. After serving one term, Gardner turned to practicing law, including corporate law in New York and Washington, D.C. Gardner then went on to serve as U.S. Senator, Under Secretary of the Treasury and Ambassador to England. Unfortunately, Ambassador Gardner passed away before he left for England to assume that post.
Clyde Hoey began his political career as a representative for the North Carolina General Assembly. He than worked as Assistant District Attorney for the Federal Court. Hoey followed E.Y. Webb as Congressmen for the Ninth District. After serving in Congress, Hoey was elected governor. During his term as governor, starting in 1936, Hoey reduced state debt by $26 million, put $4 million toward school textbooks, funded a secondary road system and promoted industrial expansion. Following the footsteps of Governor Gardner before him, Hoey served as U.S. Senator after finishing his work in the governor's office. While Odus M. Mull did not hold the major public offices that others did, he was an influential figure in state politics, and considered a member of the Shelby Dynasty. He served six terms in the North Carolina House of Representatives--one as speaker of the North Carolina House--and he was Chairman of the State Democratic Executive Committee for six years.
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