United States Governor Directory

Gaston Caperton

Gaston Caperton served as Governor of West Virginia.

  • Democratic
  • West Virginia
  • Former
Portrait of Gaston CapertonWest Virginia
Role Governor

Current assignment referenced in the congressional directory.

State West Virginia

Representing constituents across the West Virginia delegation.

Service period 1989-1997

Years of public service formally recorded.

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Biography

GASTON CAPERTON was born in Charleston, West Virginia. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of North Carolina and then worked at a small, family-owned insurance company. He became president of McDonough Caperton Insurance Group in 1976. He was elected to his first term as governor in 1989 and was reelected in 1992. During his tenure as governor, he initiated a $290 million school construction and renovation program that improved more than 470 schools and built 39 new ones. From 1999 to 2012, Governor Caperton served as the president of the College Board.

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