Solomon Blatt Sr.

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Solomon Blatt Sr.
51st and 54th Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives
In office January 9, 1951 – August 1, 1973
Preceded by	Thomas H. Pope Jr.
Succeeded by	Rex L. Carter
In office January 12, 1937 – January 14, 1947
Preceded by	Claude A. Taylor
Succeeded by	C. Bruce Littlejohn
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 91st district
In office December 1974 – May 14, 1986
Preceded by	None (district created)
Succeeded by	Joseph B. Wilder
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from Barnwell County
In office December 1932 – December 1974
Preceded by	Robert C. Holman
Succeeded by	None (districts numbered)
Personal details
Born	(1895-02-27)February 27, 1895 Blackville, South Carolina
Died	May 14, 1986(1986-05-14) (aged 91) Barnwell, South Carolina
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Ethel Green
Alma mater	University of South Carolina, Columbia (BA, LLB)
Profession	Lawyer and Politician
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1917–1918
Battles/wars	World War I

Solomon Blatt (February 27, 1895 – May 14, 1986) was a long time Democratic legislator of South Carolina from Barnwell County during the middle of the 20th century. He was a principal member of the so-called "Barnwell Ring." His 32-year tenure as Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives makes him the second longest-serving leader of any state legislature, surpassed only by Michael Madigan of Illinois. Blatt was an ardent segregationist and spent decades fighting against racial integration.^[1] Later in life his views on race relations changed.