Former Gov. Underwood in Serious Condition

The Charleston Gazette - APNews

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Former Gov. Cecil H. Underwood was in serious condition at a Charleston hospital on Monday after suffering a minor stroke over the weekend. The 83-year-old two-term Republican governor was admitted to Charleston Area Medical Center's General Hospital Saturday, a hospital spokesman said. Craig Underwood said his father is resting comfortably and is expected to make a full recovery, Dan Page, who served as Underwood's spokesman, said Monday. The governor was hospitalized earlier this year for treatment of bacterial endocarditis, an infection of the heart that can be triggered after an invasive dental procedure. Underwood was the state's youngest governor when he was elected in 1956 at the age of 34. He became the state's oldest governor 40 years later when he won another term in 1996 at the age of 74. He lost to former Democrat Gov. Bob Wise in the 2000 election.