James Davis Speed

{{short description|American politician}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = James Davis Speed

|birth_date = {{birth date|1915|01|30}}

|death_date = {{death date and age|2006|06|14|1915|01|30}}

|office1 = Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives

|term_start1 = 1961

|term_end1 = 1972

|office2 = Member of the North Carolina Senate from the 7th district

|term_start2 = 1977

|term_end2 = 1983

|office3 = Member of the North Carolina Senate from the 11th district

|term_start3 = January 1, 1983

|term_end3 = January 1, 1997

|preceded3 = R. C. Soles Jr.

|succeeded3 = Allen Wellons

|party = Democratic

|spouse = {{marriage|Martha Matthews|1947}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2007/Bills/Senate/PDF/S2168v2.pdf|title=General Assembly of North Carolina: Session 2007 (Ratified Bill): Resolution 2008-25 (Senate Joint Resolution 2168)|work=North Carolina General Assembly|date=2007|access-date=October 15, 2022}}

|children = 3

}}

James Davis Speed (January 30, 1915 – June 14, 2006) was an American politician. He served as a Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. He also served as a member for the 7th and 11th district of the North Carolina Senate.

Speed was the son of Addie Jeffreys and Henry Plummer Speed. He attended at the Gold Sand High School. Speed worked as a cowman on his family’s farm, and regarded himself primarily as a farmer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/winstonsalem/name/james-speed-obituary?id=28313099|title=James Speed Obituary (1915-2006)|work=Winston-Salem Journal|date=June 16, 2006|access-date=October 15, 2022}}

In 1961, Speed was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives, serving until 1972. In 1977, he was elected to represent the 7th district in the North Carolina Senate. In 1983 he was moved to the 11th district, replacing R. C. Soles Jr. who was moved to the 18th district. In December 1996, he retired from the Senate, to be replaced by Allen Wellons.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59444485/selection-made-to-take-retirees-seat/|title=Selection made to take retiree's seat|author=Associated Press|work=Asheville Citizen-Times|location=Asheville, North Carolina|date=August 4, 1996|access-date=October 15, 2022|page=18|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} He was honored with numerous awards in North Carolina.

Speed died in June 2006, at the age of 91.