W. Chapman Revercomb

Who was W. Chapman Revercomb?

William Chapman Revercomb was an American politician and lawyer in the state of West Virginia. He served two separate terms in the United States Senate.

He was born in Covington, Virginia, and attended Washington and Lee University before entering the United States Army in World War I where he served as a corporal. Returning from the war, he transferred to the law school at the University of Virginia, graduating in 1919. He practiced law in Covington for few years before moving to Charleston, West Virginia in 1922.

He was elected to the Senate in 1942. There he championed opposition to the foreign and domestic policies of the administration of Harry S. Truman and was a stalwart supporter of civil rights. He was defeated for re-election in 1948 and for the state's other Senate seat in 1952. In both races, his support of the national Republican party's civil rights policies were major issues.

In 1956, he won a special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Harley M. Kilgore. He re-entered the Senate, serving through the end of 1958.

In 1958, he lost to Congressman Robert Byrd in his re-election bid in another racially charged election. He then lost the Republican nomination for governor in 1960 and retired from politics. He practiced law in Charleston until his death in 1979.