Herbert Covington Bonner

Herbert C. Bonner

Bonner Bridge over Oregon Inlet

Herbert Covington Bonner (May 16, 1891 – November 7, 1965) was a Democratic U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1940 and 1965.

Born in Washington, North Carolina, Bonner attended school in Warrenton. He served in the United States Army during World War I, and worked as a salesman, a farmer, and then as secretary to Congressman Lindsay Warren from 1924 to 1940.

Upon Warren's resignation from Congress in 1940, Bonner was elected simultaneously to complete the unexpired term, and was elected to the 77th Congress for a full term. He served for twelve full terms, from November 5, 1940 until his death from cancer in Washington, D.C. on November 7, 1965. During the 79th Congress, he chaired the Committee on Election of President, Vice President, and Representatives in Congress, and in the 84th through 89th Congresses, he chaired the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.

Bonner died in office in 1965 in Washington, DC; he is buried in Washington, N.C.

Legacy

A bridge spanning Oregon Inlet on the Outer Banks is named in honor of him and his service to the state of North Carolina.

The M/V Herbert C. Bonner, a 25 car ferry was also named for him. The 112 ft. vessel was built in 1970 for the North Carolina Department of Transportation Ferry Division to cross Hatteras Inlet between Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands on the outer banks of North Carolina.^[1]The ferry was taken out of service and sold by NCDOT. The Bonner was purchased by A&R Marine and now operates on Narragansett Bay where it crosses between Bristol and Prudence Island.^[2]

Bonner was the namesake of the former Herbert C. Bonner Scout Reservation, commonly known as "Camp Bonner", located near Washington, NC. This is now known as the East Carolina Scout Reservation. The portion of the camp on the North side on the Pamlico River still bears the name Camp Bonner and is the regular site of the council camporee for the East Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

References

1. http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/5small/inactive/newbern.htm
2. "A new ferry on Narragansett Bay". Block Island Times. 2016-02-28. Retrieved 2016-03-04.

• United States Congress. "Herbert Covington Bonner (id: B000621)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.