Charles Orville Whitley

Charles Orville Whitley (January 3, 1927 – October 27, 2002) was a Democratic U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1977 and 1986.

Charles Orville Whitley
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 3rd district
In office January 3, 1977 – December 31, 1986
Preceded by	David N. Henderson
Succeeded by	Martin Lancaster
Personal details
Born	(1927-01-03)January 3, 1927 Siler City, North Carolina
Died	October 27, 2002(2002-10-27) (aged 75) Durham, North Carolina
Political party	Democratic

Born in Siler City, North Carolina, Whitley attended Siler City High School, graduating in 1943. He served in the United States Army from 1944 to 1946, then attended Wake Forest University, earning his undergraduate degree in 1949 and a law degree in 1950. He earned an M.A. from the George Washington University in 1974.

Whitley became a lawyer and practiced in Mount Olive, North Carolina. There he taught business law classes at Mount Olive Junior College.[1] He became the town's attorney in 1961; that same year, he joined the staff of Congressman David N. Henderson. In 1976 Whitley ran for Congress himself and was elected as a Democrat to the 95th United States Congress.

Re-elected four times (serving in Congress from January 3, 1977 to December 31, 1986). He did not seek re-election in 1986, but retired to political consulting. Whitley died in Durham, North Carolina in 2002.

Whitley was the grandfather of civil rights activist, Annie E. Clark.