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60-565: The Carolina Cougars franchise began when future Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina Jim Gardner bought the Houston Mavericks and moved them to North Carolina in 1969. At the time, none of North Carolina's large metropolitan areas – Charlotte , the Piedmont Triad and the Triangle – was large enough to support a professional team on its own. With this in mind, Gardner decided to brand

120-581: A $ 500 million (equivalent to $ 644 million in 2023) upfront payment from the former ABA teams. In return, the former ABA teams would get majority stake in the Spirits of St. Louis Basketball Club, L.P., which will retain control of a portion of the TV revenue streams of the former ABA teams, with the option to purchase the remaining stake held by the Silnas in the future. Also, the Silnas will drop their litigation against

180-432: A final prestigious accomplishment for their careers. With the shift away from legislative duties after the 1970s, the office became increasingly used as a means to enhance incumbents' bids for higher office; lieutenant governors have often run for governor, but few have been successful. Bev Perdue was the first woman to serve as lieutenant governor, while Mark Robinson was the first black person to ever be elected to

240-493: A modest $ 521,749. However, as the NBA's popularity exploded in 1980s and 1990s, the league's television rights were sold to CBS and then NBC , and additional deals were struck with the TNT and TBS cable networks; league television revenue soared into the hundreds of millions of dollars. Thanks to the deal, the Silnas made millions through the 1980s and at least $ 4.4 million per year through

300-537: A resident of North Carolina for at least two years preceding election. Like the governor, the lieutenant governor is elected every four years thereafter, but is elected on their own ticket. Contested elections for the office of lieutenant governor are resolved by a majority vote of the General Assembly. Their term of office begins on January 1 following their election. They serve for a four-year term and until their successor has assumed office. The lieutenant governor

360-467: A vote in the Senate except to break ties. In the event of a gubernatorial vacancy, the constitution requires the lieutenant governor to assume the governorship. If the governor is temporarily incapacitated or absent, the lieutenant governor is to serve as acting governor. In the event the governor-elect fails to qualify for their office, the lieutenant governor-elect becomes governor. The constitution makes

420-964: Is based in Charlotte, and the latter team in Raleigh. Beginning in 2012, the Cougars' uniforms were worn by the Bobcats/Hornets under the NBA Hardwood Classics moniker. Most Valuable Player Coach of the Year Executive of the Year All-ABA First Team All-ABA Second Team All-Defensive Team All-Rookie Team All-Star Selections Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina The lieutenant governor of North Carolina

480-596: Is limited to serving two consecutive terms in office, with no limits on nonconsecutive terms. The lieutenant governor is the only officer in North Carolina vested with responsibilities in both the executive and legislative branches of state government. The constitution designates the lieutenant governor the President of the Senate. In this capacity they direct the debate on bills and maintain order in that house, but have little influence over its workflow. They cannot cast

540-471: Is the second-highest elected official in the U.S. state of North Carolina and is the only elected official to have powers in both the legislative and executive branches of state government. A member of the North Carolina Council of State , the lieutenant governor serves a four-year term with a two consecutive term limit. The current lieutenant governor is Mark Robinson , a Republican , who has held

600-455: The 1975 Eastern Division Finals before losing to the eventual champion Kentucky Colonels , but in the 1975–76 season the Spirits' play was uneven and their attendance waned. The Spirits' 1975–76 season was not a success either on the court or in attendance. In May 1976, due to attendance problems in St. Louis, the Spirits announced that they were going to move to Salt Lake City, Utah , to play as

660-747: The ABA All-Star Game that season, and Cunningham was named the league's Most Valuable Player. Carolina went on to post a 57–27 record, which was the best in the ABA. The Cougars beat the New York Nets in their first-round playoff series 4 games to 1, but lost a close series to the Kentucky Colonels 4 games to 3 in the Eastern Division finals. There were many upset and disappointed fans in Greensboro when

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720-702: The Detroit Pistons for $ 500,000, Moses Malone went to the Portland Trail Blazers for $ 300,000, Ron Boone went to the Kansas City Kings for $ 250,000, Randy Denton went to the New York Knicks for $ 50,000 and Mike Barr also went to the Kansas City Kings, for $ 15,000. The folding of the Spirits dissolved a very talented basketball team, one that likely would have competed successfully in

780-622: The North Carolina State Legislative Building . They retain a staff to assist in carrying out their functions. As of January 2024, the office has nine employees retained under the terms of the State Human Resources Act. They are provided with a security detail supplied by the North Carolina Highway Patrol . As with all Council of State officers, the lieutenant governor's salary is fixed by

840-690: The Utah Rockies when a lease agreement for the Salt Palace was arranged. This followed an attempted merger of the Spirits and the Utah Stars franchise during the 1975–76 season, a merger that, had it occurred, contemplated the team leaving St. Louis for Utah. But the Stars folded before the merger could occur and instead, the Spirits bought the rights to some of the Stars' best players, including future Hall of Famer Moses Malone . In another effort to be included in

900-496: The Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum , and one game was played at Fort Bragg . Early on, the Cougars were not especially successful on the court, posting a 42–42 record in the 1969–70 season, a 34–50 record in 1970–71, and a 35–49 record in 1971–72. The 1969–70 Cougars managed to make the ABA playoffs but lost in the Eastern Division semifinals (first round) to a much stronger Indiana Pacers team. In spite of this,

960-498: The de facto leader of the North Carolina Democratic Party . Upon Republican Jim Gardner 's assumption of lieutenant gubernatorial office in 1989, Democrats in the Senate modified the body's rules, stripping the office of its powers to appoint committees in that house and assign bills to its committees. During Gardner's tenure, the office's staff was further expanded. In 1997 the General Assembly debated modifying

1020-460: The 1970s, the lieutenant governorship was a single-term, part-time position largely confined to legislative duties when the General Assembly was in session. Most of the candidates who sought the office were veteran legislators seeking a final prestigious accomplishment for their careers. In 1971, new legislation declared it a full-time job. In 1972, the Democratic -controlled General Assembly expanded

1080-596: The 1974–75 Spirits. The Spirits were one of two teams that lasted until the very end of the league but not join the NBA; the other was the Kentucky Colonels (the Virginia Squires folded after the final ABA regular season ended but before the ABA–NBA merger due to their inability to meet a league-mandated financial assessment after the season ended.). At the time of the ABA–NBA merger, the Spirits' owners planned to move

1140-450: The 1990s. From 1999 through 2002 the deal netted the Spirits' owners at least $ 12.53 million per year; from 2003 to 2006 their take was at least $ 15.6 million per year. By 2010–11 they were receiving $ 17.45 million annually. In 2014, the deal was costing each former ABA team $ 5 million a year. The Silna brothers had received roughly $ 300 million in revenue as of 2014, despite the fact that the Spirits never played an NBA game nor dealt with

1200-659: The ABA's Carolina Cougars franchise with the expectation of moving it into the NBA with the impending merger of the two leagues . On April 26, 2016, Ozzie died of cancer at the age of 83. The Silna brothers are sons of Latvian Jewish immigrants who came to the U.S. via Palestine , in the 1930s. The Silnas' father, of Jewish descent, started a textile business in New Jersey . After graduating from Columbia , then Fordham Law School , Dan joined his father's business. In 1969, Dan and Ozzie started their own knitting company, which they sold two years later. The Silna brothers moved

1260-715: The ABA-NBA merger, the Silna brothers proposed selling the Spirits to a Utah group, buying the Kentucky Colonels franchise, and moving the Colonels to Buffalo to replace the Buffalo Braves , who were then planning to move to Hollywood, Florida . The Spirits were not included in the ABA-NBA merger , with the St. Louis and Kentucky players being put into a special dispersal draft. Marvin Barnes went to

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1320-721: The Cougars as a "regional" team. Gardner sold the team after one season to Ted Munchak, who poured significant resources into the team. The Cougars were based in Greensboro and played most of their home games at the Greensboro Coliseum , the state's largest arena at the time. Games were also regularly played in Charlotte at the (original) Charlotte Coliseum and in Raleigh at Dorton Arena and Reynolds Coliseum . In early 1972, three regular season games were played in Winston-Salem at

1380-472: The Cougars decided to hold game 7 of the series in Charlotte. Of the 42 scheduled regular season home games, 25 were usually scheduled for Greensboro while only 12 were played in Charlotte. With Cougar management having the choice of city to play game 7, it mystified its Greensboro area fans with the choice to play such a pivotal game on a less familiar court. Game 7 was hotly contested but Kentucky prevailed, much to Cougar fans dismay. The 1973–74 Cougars started

1440-620: The Cougars had a good fan following, particularly in Greensboro. The 1971–72 team was coached by former NBA All-Star Tom Meschery , who had just retired from 10 years of NBA play with the San Francisco Warriors and the Seattle SuperSonics . In 1972–73, the Cougars hired retired ABA players Larry Brown and former Cougar Doug Moe as coaches. The 1972–73 Cougars were fairly talented and featured players Billy Cunningham , Joe Caldwell , and Mack Calvin . All three appeared in

1500-459: The Cougars to St. Louis, Missouri , because it was then the largest city in the United States without a professional basketball team and they thought this would make their team more likely to join the NBA. In 1974, the Cougars, roster and all, were overhauled and became the ABA's Spirits of St. Louis from 1974 through 1976. The 1974–75 Spirits had upset the reigning ABA champion New York Nets in

1560-480: The General Assembly and cannot be reduced during their term of office. In 2023, the lieutenant governor's annual salary was $ 157,403. Unlike with other officers on the Council of State, the governor of North Carolina cannot appoint an interim officer in the event the lieutenant governor's office becomes vacant. In such an instance, the lieutenant governor's role in the Senate is assumed by the president pro tempore . In

1620-428: The NBA. Twelve players from the final two Spirits of St. Louis rosters (1974–76) played in the NBA during the 1976–77 season and beyond: Maurice Lucas , Ron Boone , Marvin Barnes , Caldwell Jones , Lonnie Shelton , Steve Green , Gus Gerard , Moses Malone , Don Adams , Don Chaney , M. L. Carr and Freddie Lewis . While the Silna brothers were left out of the NBA, they nonetheless managed to turn it into one of

1680-477: The Senate as that body's presiding officer and assumed the former office's role in succeeding to the governorship in the event it became vacant. Furthermore, the constitution made the official an ex officio member of the newly created State Board of Education . From 1868 until 1970, presiding over the Senate was the lieutenant governor's primary role, and in that capacity they appointed senators to committees (a power accorded to them by Senate rules ) and oversaw

1740-438: The Senate modified the body's rules, stripping the office of its long-standing powers to appoint committees in that house and assign bills to those committees. With the shift away from legislative duties, the office became increasingly used as a means to enhance its incumbents' bids for higher office; lieutenant governors have often run for governor, but few have been successful. Under North Carolina's first constitution in 1776,

1800-436: The Silnas inserted a clause in the contract stipulating that their share could not drop below the amount generated from a 28-team league. With the NBA expanding to 30 teams, each of the former ABA teams was required to pay the Silnas a 1/196 share (1/7 of 1/28) of total league TV revenue, instead of 1/210 (1/7 of 1/30), giving the Silnas a 1/49 share. The contract defined broadcast revenue very broadly, which their attorney during

1860-457: The added travel expenses incurred by the regional concept ultimately proved insurmountable. Munchak sold the Cougars to a consortium of New York businessmen headed by brothers Ozzie and Daniel Silna , who moved to St. Louis as the Spirits of St. Louis . However, the new owners assembled an almost entirely new team after moving to St. Louis; only a few players from the 1973–74 Cougars suited up for

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1920-475: The constitution to provide for the election of the lieutenant governor on a joint ticket with the governor or to have the office assume the responsibilities of the North Carolina Secretary of State , but these proposals did not move forward. Another effort in 2015 to amend the constitution to provide for the office's joint ticket election with the governor failed. Three lieutenant governors assumed

1980-530: The costs of fielding a team. They credit their terrific deal to planning they had done ahead of the merger for the Virginia Squires owners; the Silnas had expected the Spirits and Colonels to enter the NBA but for the ailing Squires to be left out, and the Silnas thought up the television revenue deal as a way to treat the Squires' owners fairly if the Squires did not join the NBA with the other ABA teams. However,

2040-495: The deal cut by the Silna brothers and the incredible amount of revenue it has produced over the years has itself become legend. There have been numerous attempts by the NBA and the former ABA clubs to buy out the deal. It was reported that a $ 6 million settlement was under consideration in the 1980s. With New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson purchasing the New Orleans Hornets from the NBA in 2012 and planning to rename

2100-623: The event that the lieutenant governor is impeached by the North Carolina House of Representatives , the chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court presides over the court of impeachment, composed at minimum of a majority of the members of the State Senate. A two-thirds affirmative vote of the senators present constitutes a conviction and thus removal and future disqualification from holding office. Avenues for removing

2160-544: The final stages, and it had become apparent that a "regional" franchise would not be viable in the NBA. Although the Charlotte/Greensboro/Raleigh axis (the Piedmont Crescent or I-85 Corridor ) was beginning an unprecedented period of growth, none of these cities was big enough at the time to support an NBA team on its own. Additionally, several persons quoted in the book Loose Balls by Terry Pluto say

2220-543: The four merging ABA teams, the Denver Nuggets , Indiana Pacers , New York Nets and the San Antonio Spurs , agreed to pay the St. Louis owners $ 2.2 million (equivalent to $ 11.8 million in 2023) in cash up front and an additional 1/7 share of each of the four remaining teams' television broadcast revenue "for as long as the NBA or its successors continues in its existence" in return for the Spirits folding. This

2280-475: The governorship throughout the office's history due to a vacancy. The constitution allows the governor and General Assembly to assign the lieutenant governor additional duties, and the lieutenant governor has thus been accorded membership on and responsibility for several appointments on other state boards. Unlike other Council of State offices, there is no mechanism to fill a vacancy in the lieutenant governorship between elections. From its creation in 1868 up until

2340-454: The greatest deals in the history of professional sports. Of the seven teams that finished the final ABA season, the NBA would only accept 4 in the merger. The Virginia Squires folded shortly after the season. The Colonels negotiated a $ 3.3 million (equivalent to $ 17.7 million in 2023) buyout from the remaining ABA teams. However, the Spirits held out for more and in June 1976, the owners of

2400-753: The lieutenant governor ex offico a member of the North Carolina Board of Education and one of the ten state officers who comprise the Council of State. They are also ex officio a member of the North Carolina Capital Planning Commission, the State Board of Community Colleges , the State Board of Economic Development, and the chair of the Energy Policy Council. They have the power to appoint some members of other executive state boards, though state law does not grant them

2460-457: The lieutenant governor a member of the Council of State . The Executive Reorganization Act of 1971 affirmed the role of lieutenant governor as a full-time job. With the election of James Holshouser as governor in 1972—the first Republican to win the office in decades—the Democratic majority in the General Assembly was compelled to raise the stature of the office of the lieutenant governor, which

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2520-593: The lieutenant governor from office in circumstances other than impeachment—such as a lack of physical or mental capacity—may be determined by law.     Democratic (30)     Republican (6) Italics indicate next-in-line of succession for states and territories without a directly elected lieutenant governor or whose lieutenant governor office is vacant: Ozzie and Daniel Silna Ozzie (December 27, 1932 – April 26, 2016 ) and Daniel (born August 26, 1944 ) Silna are American businessmen of Latvian descent best known for their success in

2580-423: The merger negotiations, Donald Schupak , pointed out "could not be evaded or made obsolete". The Silnas brothers wanted to join the NBA and had originally hoped to parlay the deal into an NBA franchise of their own; instead, the NBA moved forward with paying the brothers (45% each) and their partner/lawyer, Schupak (10%), the annual amounts. The first year the deal yielded revenue for the Silnas, in 1980–81, of

2640-409: The office of governor upon the death of the incumbent: Curtis H. Brogden in 1874, Thomas M. Holt in 1891, and Luther H. Hodges in 1954. Tod R. Caldwell in 1870 assumed the office upon the previous governor's impeachment and removal, and Thomas J. Jarvis assumed it in 1879 upon the incumbent's resignation. Historically, the lieutenant governorship was often sought by veteran state legislators as

2700-511: The office since 2021. The Constitution of North Carolina designates the lieutenant governor the ex officio president of the State Senate and a member of the State Board of Education . They are also required to serve as acting governor of the state in the event of the governor 's absence, and assume the governorship in the event it becomes vacant. Five lieutenant governors have succeeded to

2760-402: The office's resources to challenge the incoming Republican governor. In 1977, the lieutenant governor was constitutionally authorized to serve two consecutive terms. The office's political prominence increased over the years following the succession amendment and the legislature continued to expand its powers. Upon a Republican's assumption of lieutenant gubernatorial office in 1989, Democrats in

2820-411: The office. He was sworn in on January 9, 2021. As with other state officials, only qualified voters in North Carolina are eligible to be elected lieutenant governor. Unlike most other candidates, who must be at least 21 years of age, any potential lieutenant governor—like the governor—must be at least 30 years of age. They must also have been a citizen of the United States for at least five years and

2880-506: The passage of legislation. The job was a part-time position, since the lieutenant governor served only when the General Assembly was in session or in the absence of the governor. What other functions they performed were largely ceremonial, and the office attracted little public attention. From 1943 to 1954, by informal arrangement, the official chaired the State Board of Education. Constitutional revisions which took effect in 1971 made

2940-557: The power to create their own official boards. The constitution allows the governor and General Assembly to assign the lieutenant governor additional duties. State law empowers the lieutenant governor to oversee the awarding of the North Carolina Medal of Valor for law enforcement officers. The lieutenant governor's office is located in the Hawkins-Hartness House on Blount Street in Raleigh. They also have an office in

3000-434: The season strong, winning 17 of their first 22 games. Despite injuries and internal squabbles, the Cougars posted a 47–37 record but were swept in the Eastern Division semifinals 4 games to 0 by the Kentucky Colonels . 1973–74 turned out to be the Cougars' last season in North Carolina. Although they were moderately successful overall and had one of the most loyal fan bases in the ABA, talks toward an ABA–NBA merger were in

3060-783: The second head coach of the Hornets. Larry Brown , who coached the Cougars for two seasons and won Coach of the Year during his tenure, would eventually become the eighth head coach of Charlotte's NBA franchise. Two teams in other professional sports leagues include Carolina in their branding: the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League , and the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League . The former team

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3120-463: The state's executive authority was exercised by the governor . It accorded the duty of presiding over the North Carolina Senate to a speaker of the Senate, who was also to act as governor in case that office became vacant. The office of lieutenant governor was created by the state's 1868 constitution. The lieutenant governor—who was to be chosen by popular election—replaced the speaker of

3180-534: The team to Salt Lake City, Utah to play as the Utah Rockies ; instead, its players were dealt in the 1976 ABA dispersal draft . Professional basketball would return to North Carolina in 1988 when the Charlotte Hornets entered the NBA. Carl Scheer , who won Executive of the Year as a member of the Cougars, would later become the first executive of the NBA's Charlotte Hornets. Cougars point guard Gene Littles would become an assistant coach, an executive, and

3240-462: The team, there had been talk that the NBA might negotiate a deal to end the TV deals for the Silna brothers in exchange for rights to the Spirits name. This ended up not happening, as the Hornets were renamed the Pelicans. In January 2014, a conditional settlement agreement between the NBA, the former ABA clubs and the Silnas was announced. As part of the deal, the Silnas were reported to be receiving

3300-479: The textile industry, as well as being co-owners of the American Basketball Association 's Spirits of St. Louis and the lucrative deal cut to fold that team during the ABA-NBA merger . Brothers Ozzie and Daniel Silna made a fortune as pioneers in the manufacture of polyester . In 1974, they wanted to own an NBA team. After an attempt to buy the Detroit Pistons fell short, the Silnas purchased

3360-457: Was based on the principle that all seven remaining ABA franchise should get an equal share in the TV revenue of the merged teams. Thus the Silnas would receive checks from the NBA on a yearly basis, representing a 4/7 share of the television money that would normally go to each NBA franchise, or roughly two percent of the entire league's TV money — as compared to the roughly three and a third percent received by each active franchise. Additionally,

3420-459: Was held by Democrat Jim Hunt . It raised the job's salary from $ 5,000 to $ 30,000 per year, increased the office operating budget, and expanded its staff from two to five. From 1868 to 1977, the lieutenant governor and the governor were limited to standalone four-year terms. In 1977, the state constitution was amended to allow both the governor and the lieutenant governor to serve two consecutive terms. James C. Green , who served from 1977 to 1985,

3480-405: Was responsible for 195 appointments to 87 state boards (106 of these were subject to legislative confirmation). Despite this, the officials experienced mistrust from the Senate and faced several unsuccessful attempts to strip them of their appointive powers. From 1985 to 1989, Democrat Robert B. Jordan served as lieutenant governor while Republican James G. Martin served as governor, making him

3540-455: Was responsible for recommending the board's chair. The proposal was ultimately defeated in the House of Representatives . Despite this, the legislature granted the lieutenant governor automatic membership on several state boards and significant appointment responsibilities. By 1982, North Carolina had one of the most powerful lieutenant governorships in the country. By 1989, the lieutenant governor

3600-442: Was the first lieutenant governor to serve consecutive terms. The office's political prominence increased over the years following the succession amendment and the legislature continued to expand its powers. Green led the Senate in an effort at the onset of his term to make the lieutenant governor the ex officio chair of the State Board of Education by law, directly challenging the authority of Hunt, who had since become governor and

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