Career
As the North Carolina Constitution does not provide for filling a vacancy in the office, it remained vacant until after the 1964 general election. The Lieutenant Governor"s primary responsibility, presiding over the North Carolina Senate, fell to the President pro tempore. According to Sanford biographer Marion Ellis, they "came from different worlds, but the two had grown close during the fall 1960 campaign.
Philpott was a Lexington furniture manufacturer who was well respected in the state"s business community.
Before Philpott announced his own plans for public office, Sanford had considered him a possible manager for his campaign. He was a warm, friendly, unpretentious man who wore his thinning hair trimmed in a crew cut.".