Cleveland Keith Benedict

Republican Representative of West Virginia's 2nd district

Congresses Served

House Terms

January 1, 1935 (90 years old)

Birthday

Served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives (1981-1983)
Attended The Hill School and Princeton University, graduating with an A.B. in history
Worked in the Republican state administration of Arch Moore (1969-1977)
Unsuccessful candidate for the state Senate’s 11th District in 1970
Was the Republican nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1980, winning the general election
Appointed to the Committee on Energy and Commerce during his term
Challenged incumbent Senator Robert C. Byrd in 1982 but was unsuccessful
Appointed as a deputy assistant secretary in the Department of Energy post-Congress
Elected as Commissioner of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture in 1988, did not seek re-election in 1992
Ran for Governor of West Virginia in 1992, was defeated
Retired to his dairy farm, supported Democratic gubernatorial nominee in 1996, and was a delegate-at-large to the Republican National Convention in 2000
Opposed a wind farm project in Greenbrier County in 2006
Married Ann Farrar Arthur in 1957, with whom he had three children, including author Pinckney Arthur Benedict
Descends from notable families including Procter & Gamble co-founder William Procter and President Grover Cleveland