Image courtesy of the Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives

WHITENER, Basil Lee, a Representative from North Carolina; born in York County, S.C., May 14, 1915; educated in public schools of Gaston County; graduated from Lowell High School in 1931 and from Rutherford College in 1933; attended University of South Carolina 1933-1935; graduated from Duke University Law School in 1937; admitted to the North Carolina bar the same year and commenced the practice of law in Gastonia, N.C.; member of the State house of representatives in 1941 and renominated in 1942 but resigned to enter the United States Navy; served as gunnery officer and was separated from the service in November 1945 with rank of lieutenant; appointed solicitor, fourteenth solicitorial district, in January 1946 and elected in November 1946, reelected in 1950 and 1954, and served until December 31, 1956; delegate to the Democratic National Convention 1948; elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-fifth and to the five succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1957-January 3, 1969); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1968 to the Ninety-first Congress; unsuccessful candidate for election in 1970 to the Ninety-second Congress; resumed the practice of law; was a resident of Gastonia, N.C., until his death there on March 20, 1989; interment in Gaston Memorial Park, Gastonia, N.C.