HELMS, Jesse (1921-2008)
Republican of North Carolina 
0th congressional district
Served in Senate 1973-2002
Biography
a Senator from North Carolina; born in Monroe, Union County, N.C., October 18, 1921; educated in the public schools of Monroe, Wingate Junior College, and Wake Forest College; served in the United States Navy 1942-1945; city editor, Raleigh Times; administrative assistant to United States Senators Willis Smith 1951-1953 and Alton Lennon 1953; executive director, North Carolina Bankers Association 1953-1960; member, Raleigh City Council 1957-1961; television and radio executive 1960-1972; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 1972 and reelected in 1978, 1984, 1990 and again in 1996 and served from January 3, 1973, to January 3, 2003; not a candidate for reelection in 2002; chair, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry (Ninety-seventh to Ninety-ninth Congresses), Committee on Foreign Relations (One Hundred Fourth to One Hundred Sixth Congresses; One Hundred Seventh Congress [January 3, 2001; January 20, 2001-June 6, 2001]); was a resident of Raleigh, North Carolina, until his death on July 4, 2008; interment in Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh, North Carolina.Courtesy of Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
