Retrospective of Strom Thurmond's Career
Local Tributes to Strom Thurmond

J. Strom Thurmond, the South Carolina legend who dominated state politics for over 50 years, died Thursday night at 10:00 p.m. He was 100 years old. His family was by his side when he died.

Former Senator Strom Thurmond's son says the 100 year old
Republican died last night without pain at the Edgefield County
Hospital with his family surrounding him.

The Senate suspended debate on a Medicaid bill Thursday?night to have a moment of silence in Thurmond's honor.?Fellow South Carolina Senator Ernest "Fritz" Hollings says even though the two were in different parties, there was no doubt Thurmond did everything he could for South Carolina.

Despite holding the title as the nation's oldest serving Senator, it was hard for many to keep up with South Carolina's Storm Thurmond. Before retiring from the U.S. Senate last year, Thurmond remained very active in politics.

James Strom Thurmond was born December 5, 1902 in Edgefield, South Carolina. After graduating from public schools in Edgefield County, Thurmond enrolled in classes at Clemson College in 1923, graduating with a degree in horticulture. While at Clemson, he ran track for a state championship team in 1922.

Before answering the call to serve South Carolina in politics, Strom Thurmond held a variety of jobs. He was a farmer, teacher, and coach and in 1929 became the Edgefield County Superintendent of Education. But somehow, that wasn't enough for this determined man. He studied law with his father and in 1930 he was admitted to the South Carolina Bar. He served as the Edgefield Town and County attorney from 1930 until 1938.

In 1933, Thurmond was elected to the South Carolina Senate and represented Edgefield until he was elected to the Eleventh Circuit judgeship.

When the United States got involved in World War II, Thurmond left the bench to serve in the U.S. Army. Thurmond was with the Civil Affairs section of the First Army headquarters and participated in the Normandy invasion on assignment with the 82nd Airborne Division. He won a Bronze Star for his heroism on D-Day. After Germany surrendered in May 1945 he briefly served in the Pacific before returning to South Carolina.

A year after returning home from war, Strom Thurmond was back in politics. But this time, he had his eyes set on the governor's mansion. Thurmond won that 1946 gubernatorial race.

In 1947, Thurmond married his first wife.? Jean Crouch was a Winthrop College graduate 22 years Thurmond's junior. The age difference didn't matter. Thurmond once stood on his head in an effort to impress Jean. "I wanted to show her I was in good shape," Thurmond said in an interview several years ago in one of his last one-on-one interviews. It worked, the two married and she devoted herself to her husband's political career when the "Dixiecrat" made a run for president. The two never had children; she died in 1960 after a battle with cancer.

Thurmond dealt with the grief of Jean's death by devoting himself even more to serving the people of South Carolina.

He made history once again by becoming the first person to ever win a seat in the U.S. Senate on a write-in campaign.? "I believe I'm the only senator ever elected that way, on write in -- I don't know how we got elected, but we did", Thurmond once reflected.

He never looked back.

He served as one of South Carolina's U.S. Senators until he retired last year at the age of 100. Thurmond was a senator through the terms of 10 presidents. He was older than nine of them. From President Roosevelt to President George W. Bush, he knew them all.

"President Roosevelt, I think was a great man, he came along, at a time when this country badly needed him.? Richard Nixon, one of the smartest of all.? Ruined himself in the actions that happened. Ronald Reagan, one of the best of all, very fine man, perfectly honest, did what he thought was best. Bill Clinton, bright fellow, a lot of good in him.... too liberal," Thurmond said about some of the President he has worked with during his time in the Senate.

Thurmond credited his father for his successful political career. He kept hanging in his office a document dated June 15, 1923. Advice from his father, rules by which to live. He earned the titles of longest serving senator and the oldest serving senator before retiring.

But even in his 90's, Strom Thurmond refused to slow down. In fact, he once credited his longevity with daily exercise. At the age of 95, Thurmond said he still exercised for 45 minutes each day. With nearly 50 years as a U.S. Senator, Thurmond had the respect of his colleagues, on both sides of the aisle.

"He's been an expert on defense matters, foreign policy. But above all he's been a gentleman for all these years. And there'll never be another Strom Thurmond; he's a very unique figure in American history and in the United States senate. And he's going to be missed for a long, long time," former U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole said of Thurmond.

Former South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Dick Harpootlian said "Somebody who talked to Civil War veterans, who went in with the troops in D-Day, who was a governor, a state legislator, a judge, US Senator since 1954 I believe, this guy has met them all and seen them all."

Eight years after the death of his first wife Jean, Thurmond married again at the age of 65. This time, to 22-year-old Nancy Moore. The two had four children. The oldest a daughter, Nancy Moore.? Then Strom, Jr. Another daughter followed, Julie and then the youngest son, Paul.

His oldest daughter Nancy was hit and killed in the early 90's by a drunk driver on a Columbia street. It was a tough time for South Carolina's senior senator, who said he trusted in God to get him through the tragedy.

If there is a political legacy Thurmond wants the people of South Carolina to remember about his service to this great state and its people, he once said this. "One who worked hard, tried to give the people good service. Patriotic, loved his country, loved its people and hoped he was love by the people."

Associated Press contributed to this article