LOCKE CRAIG, the fifty-third governor of North Carolina, was born in Bertie County, North Carolina on August 16, 1860. His education was attained at the University of North Carolina, where he graduated in 1880. He went on to study law, and then established a successful legal career, serving as county attorney and the Asheville city corporation counsel. Craig first entered politics as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, a position he won election to in 1899 and 1901. He next secured the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, and was elected governor by a popular vote in the 1912 general election. During his tenure, a highway commission was formed; conservation policies were sanctioned; the state park system was improved; and fishing regulations were approved. After completing his term, Craig retired from public service. He continued to stay active in his legal career. Governor Locke Craig passed away on June 9, 1925, and was buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Asheville, North Carolina.