(RALEIGH) – A former Republican lieutenant governor is back in state government after an appointment Thursday by Governor Pat McCrory.  Former Lt. Gov. Jim Gardner was picked to take a seat as chairman on the State Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, effective Friday.

Gardner was born in Rocky Mount on April 8, 1933 and educated in North Carolina public schools in Rocky Mount and North Carolina State University. Gardner served in the United States Army before serving as Vice President of Gardner Dairy Products and co-founder and executive vice president of Hardee’s Food Systems, Inc.

A two-time candidate for Governor of North Carolina, Gardner also served as Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party, a United States Congressman from Eastern North Carolina and Lt. Governor. He currently resides in Rocky Mount with his wife Marie and has three children and nine grandchildren.