Cecil Underwood, 86; Led W.Va. at 34 and 74

Cecil Underwood, 86, a high school teacher who went on to become West Virginia's youngest and oldest governor, died Nov. 24 at Charleston Area Medical Center.

The cause of death was not immediately available, but he had been admitted to the medical center the day before because of bleeding in his brain.

Mr. Underwood won his first term in 1956 at the age of 34. He won his second term 40 years later on his 74th birthday. He entered politics at age 22, when he successfully ran as a Republican for the state House of Delegates representing Tyler County. After serving six terms in the House, he won his first four-year term as governor.

Mr. Underwood was unable to run for reelection because West Virginia's Constitution then limited a governor to a single term. Despite multiple attempts, it would be 40 years before he won an election. He continued the nonviolent desegregation of the state's schools, an initiative begun by the previous governor. He later advocated an organized civil service and retirement pension system.

He attempted to unseat a popular Democrat, Sen. Jennings Randolph, in 1960. Mr. Underwood lost attempts to regain the governor's office in both 1964 and 1968. In 1976, he lost the governor's race to Democrat Jay Rockefeller by 250,000 votes, the worst defeat in his political career.

He was drafted to run for governor in 1996 and carried 38 of the state's 55 counties. His attempt at reelection in 2000 failed.

Between terms as governor, Mr. Underwood was president of Bethany College in Bethany, W.Va., and worked at the Island Creek Coal Co., Monsanto Corp. and the New York Life Insurance Co.

Born in Josephs Mills, W.Va., Mr. Underwood graduated from Salem College in 1943. He received a master's degree from West Virginia University in 1952.

His wife, Hovah Underwood, died in 2004.

Survivors include three children and five grandchildren.