George C. Peery
George C. Peery (October 28, 1873-October 14, 1952), was an American Democratic politician, and was Governor of Virginia from 1934-1938.
Governor Peery was the first governor to be selected, at least partially, by the soon to be very powerful "Byrd Machine," led by Senator Harry F. Byrd, Sr.
Peery was born in Cedar Bluff, in Tazewell County, Virginia, in the far southwest portion of the state.
Peery was a member of Congress, representing the 9th Congressional district of Virginia from 1923-1929 (the current seatholder is Rick Boucher), and was a delegate to the Democratic Nation Convention in 1920 & 1924. Peery was a member of the State Corporation Commission from 1929 to 1933, then newly elected Senator Byrd approached him to run for Governor in 1933. Peery accepted, and won the November election.
As governor, he created unemployment insurance and, after the repeal of prohibition, he created Virginia's Alcohol Beverage Control board.
After his retirement as Governor, Peery joined the board of trustees of both Washington and Lee University and Hollins College.
Peery died in 1952, at the age of 78, two weeks short of his 79th birthday, in Richlands, Virginia. He was buried in Maplewood Cemetery in Tazewell, Virginia.
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| Preceded by John Garland Pollard |
Governor of Virginia 1934–1938 |
Succeeded by James H. Price |
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