Thomas Albert Wofford ( September 27 , 1908February 25 , 1978 ) was a United States Senator from South Carolina . Born in Madden Station , Laurens County , South Carolina , he attended the public schools and graduated from the University of South Carolina at Columbia in 1928 , and from Harvard University Law School in 1931 . He was admitted to the bar in the latter year and commenced the practice of law in Greenville . He was assistant solicitor of the thirteenth judicial circuit from 1935 to 1936 , and was assistant United States district attorney from 1937 to 1944 . In 1947 , Wofford was one of the defense attorneys in the Greenville Lynching Trial . He was a member of the board of trustees of Winthrop College from 1944 to 1956 . Wofford also was a delegate to the 1948 Democratic National Convention from South Carolina . Wofford was appointed on April 5 , 1956 as a Democrat to the US Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Strom Thurmond and served from April 5 , 1956 , to November 6 , 1956 ; he was not a candidate for election to fill the vacancy , and engaged in the practice of law . He was a member of the South Carolina Senate from 1966 to 1972 , and changed party affiliation to Republican . He resided in Greenville , and died there in 1978 ; interment was in Woodlawn Memorial Park
1948 Democratic National Convention
1948 Democratic National Convention
Thomas A. Wofford