East, John P., 1931-1986

John P. East (1931-1986) was a Senator from North Carolina who born in Springfield, Sangamon County, Ill. on May 5, 1931. East attended public schools and graduated from Earlham College, Richmond, Ind. in 1953, the University of Illinois Law School, Urbana in 1959 and also earned graduate degrees from the University of Florida, Gainesville in 1962 and 1964. From 1953-1955, East served in the United States Marine Corps. After his admittance to the Florida bar in 1959, he commenced practice in Naples. Five years later, East became a member of the Political Science faculty at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., 1964-1980. In 1980, he was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate and served from January 3, 1981, until his death by suicide, June 29, 1986 in Greenville, N.C. He is interred in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.