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elected as Governer of Virginia 1922 and 1926. He was President Shenandoah Life Insurance Company in Roanoke. He was elected President VA State Board of Education in Richmond.
Governor of Virginia. A member of one of Virginia's most prominent families and usually known as E. Lee Trinkle or Lee Trinkle, he attended Wytheville Military Academy and received bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees from Hampden-Sydney College in 1895. In 1898 he graduated from the University of Virginia Law School, and then began practicing law in Wytheville. He was also active in several business ventures, including Roanoke's Shenandoah Life Insurance Company, where he served as Vice President from 1916 to 1933, and President from 1933 until his death. Trinkle served in the Virginia Senate from 1913 to 1921. In 1921 he was the successful Democratic nominee for Governor, and from 1922 to 1926 served the one term allowed by law. His term was marked by an extensive road building program and improvements to the state prison system. After leaving office he returned to practicing law and remained active in government and higher learning, serving as President of the Virginia Board of Education from 1930 until his death and a member of the Hampden-Sydney College Board of Trustees. The Virginia Tourism Corporation's regional visitors center in Wytheville is named for him. Virginia State University's Trinkle Hall, a residence building for female students, was also named in his honor. (bio by: Bill McKern)
ELBERT LEE TRINKLE was born in Wytheville, Virginia. He attended Wytheville Military Academy and received both A.B. and B.S. degrees from Hampden-Sydney College in 1895, winning medals for oratory and debate. In 1898 he received an LL.B. from the University of Virginia Law School, where he was awarded the Moot Court prize, his law school class's highest honor. He went on to practice law in Wytheville and was a partner in Trinkle Brothers, a farming company. He was one of the organizers of the Shenandoah Life Insurance Company in Roanoke, serving as first vice president from 1916 to 1933, and then as president until his death. Prior to being elected governor, he was a member of the Virginia State Senate from 1915 to 1920. During his gubernatorial term, he was active in the National Governors Association, serving as Chairman of the Executive Committee. Initially a supporter of using bond financing for highway construction, he was eventually forced to place all state institutions on a pay-as-you-go basis, including the highway department, resulting in the financing of a road building program by gasoline and auto taxes rather than by bonds. During his administration, lawmakers raised public school teaching standards by adopting stricter licensing requirements and encouraging summer courses. Trinkle also received a medal from the National Committee on Prisons and Prison Labor for supporting the exchange of prison-made goods between prisons of the various states. After leaving office, he served in a number of public and private capacities, among them president of the Virginia State Board of Education from 1930 until his death and president of the Children's Home Society of Southwestern Virginia from 1935 to 1938.
E Lee Trinkle in the U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970
Name: E Lee Trinkle
Birth Date: 12 Mar 1876
Birth Place: Wytheville, Virginia
SAR Membership: 36573
Role: Applicant
Application Date: 8 May 1923
Father: Elbert Stephen Trinkle
Mother: Lettitia Mary Sexton
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1876 - 1939 (63 years)
