Lancaster, H. Martin (Harold Martin), 1943-

Harold Martin Lancaster was born on 24 March 1943 in Patetown Community, N.C.; received the J.D. degree from the University of North Carolina Law School, 1967; served in the U.S. Navy, 1967-1970; and began his Goldsboro, N.C., law practice in 1970. He served in the North Carolina House of Representatives, 1978-1986, and represented the Third North Carolina District in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1987-1994.

Harold Martin Lancaster was born on 24 March 1943 in Patetown Community, N.C. In 1957, he served as a Page in the North Carolina House of Representatives and in 1959 as Chief Page. He attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, where he served in the Student Legislature and the North Carolina State Student Legislature. In 1964, he served as an intern in state government and in 1966 was a research assistant for Senator Sam J. Ervin's Constitutional Rights Subcommittee. Lancaster received the A.B. degree in 1965 and the J.D. degree from the University of North Carolina Law School in 1967.

After law school, Lancaster served three years as a Judge Advocate in the Navy, eighteen months of which were spent on the U.S.S. Hancock off the coast of Vietnam. He continued as an active reservist and retired as a Captain in 1993. Following his naval service, Lancaster returned to Wayne County to begin practicing law with his college and law school classmate, Phil Baddour, Jr.

Lancaster served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1978 to 1986, his last two terms as chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Lancaster was elected to represent the Third North Carolina District in the United States House of Representatives beginning in 1987. He served as freshman whip and on many House committees, including Armed Services, Agriculture, and Small Business. His membership on the Armed Services Committee, which he secured as a freshman, was a particular coup, since Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base and Seymour Johnston Air Force Base are within the Third District and Fort Bragg, Pope Air Force Base, and the Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station are in adjoining counties.

As a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives Lancaster served on the following committees:

1983-1986: Judiciary Committee (Chairman)

1981-1983: Highway Safety Committee (Chairman)

1979-1986: Government Ethics

1979-1986: Veterans Affairs

1978-1982: Appropriations

1982-1986: Finance

1983-1984: Corrections

1983-1984: Housing

1979-1983: Judicial Council

1979-1980: Product Liability Study Commission

1981-1982: Health Occupational Licensing Boards Study Commission (Chairman)

1981-1982: Investment of Public Funds Study Commission

1981-1982: Separation of Powers Study Commission

1983-1984: Neuse River Basin Study Commission (Chairman)

1983-1984: Computer Literary Study Commission

1981-1986: Mental Health Study Commission

1985-1986: Joint Committee on Governmental Operations

1986-1986: Simplified Business Licensing Commission (1985-86)

1985-1986: Venture Capital Study Commission

As a member of the United States Congress, Lancaster served on the following committees:

1987-1995: Committee on Armed Services

1993-1995: Committee of Merchant Marine and Fisheries

1987: Committee on Public Works and Transportation

1987-1995: Committee on Small Business

1994: Congressional Study Group on Germany (Chairman)

Lancaster left Congress in 1994 to return to Goldsboro. In 1995, he served as Special Assistant to the President on Chemical Weapons. He was nominated by President Clinton in 1995 to become Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works and was confirmed in January 1996.