Early Life and Career
Vandiver was born in Canon in Franklin County in northeastern Georgia. He was the only child of Vanna Bowers and Samuel Ernest Vandiver, Sr. His mother had two children from a previous marriage, which ended with the death of her first husband. Vandiver's father was a prominent businessman, farmer, and landowner in Franklin County. Vandiver attended public schools in Lavonia and the Darlington School in Rome, Georgia. He graduated from the University of Georgia and the University of Georgia School of Law, both in Athens.
After stateside service as an officer in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, he was elected in 1946 as mayor of Lavonia in Franklin County. That same year he supported Eugene Talmadge's candidacy for governor that year and then Herman Talmadge's claim to the office after Eugene's death.
In 1948, Talmadge appointed Vandiver to be the state's adjutant general. In 1954, Vandiver was elected lieutenant governor. He ran for governor in 1958 and promised to restore the state's image, which had been tarnished by the scandals under Governor Marvin Griffin under whom he had served in the second position. Vandiver was overwhelmingly elected. Oddly, he succeeded Griffin as both lieutenant governor and governor.
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