E. Boyd Golding

After graduating from Mississippi College, Golding became a teacher.^[2] He was first a principal and teacher at Mars Hill High School in Amite County for two years.^[2] In 1939, he was elected Superintendent of the Bude High School.^[2] He then attended and graduated from the Army Air Forces Technical School, and then worked there as a teacher for three years.^[2] He was elected Superintendent of the Benton High Schools in 1947 and served for eight years.^[2] Around this time, Golding received a Master's Degree in School Administration from Mississippi State University.^[3][2]

On August 2, 1955, Golding faced Carl Craig in the first Democratic primary for State Auditor.^[4] Golding won, receiving 229,920 votes compared to Craig's 182,800.^[4] He then won the general election unopposed.^[4] Under the administration of Governor Ross Barnett (1960–1964), Golding served as Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety.^[5]

In 1963, Golding ran for the position of State Superintendent of Education.^[2] His platform encouraged "The Three R's", vocational education, improved teacher salary, continued segregation, and independence from federal control via rejection of federal aid.^[2] Golding lost the second Democratic primary by a close margin (239,425 to 214,240) to incumbent Jack Tubb.^[6] On June 29, 1967, Golding announced he was running again for the position.^[3] The segregation plank was absent from the published campaign platform.^[3] In the first Democratic primary, Golding received 289,446 votes, while opponent Garvin Johnston received 353,695 votes.^[7] He received a PhD in School Administration from Mississippi State University at this time.^[3][5]

Golding died on August 27, 2008, in Benton, Mississippi.^[5][1]

Golding was a member of the Baptist Church.^[2] On July 6, 1939, he married Winnie Craft, a teacher.^[2][8] On June 24, 2004, aged 90, he married 73-year-old Ramona Jean Ellis.^[9][1] He had two stepchildren through this marriage.^[1]