Harvey Cloyd Philpott (April 6, 1909 – August 19, 1961) was an American businessman and politician who served as the 24th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina in 1961.

He held several local political offices before being elected to a seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives in 1953 as a Democrat.

During his tenure he served on the Pearsall Committee and played a key role in the passage of a state minimum wage law.

[1] While he was at the latter institution, he was a cadet captain of Company C, edited the school newspaper and was president of the North Carolina Club.

[1] Over the course of his tenure he was on various House committees, including those on Agriculture, Education, Roads and Highway Safety, Appropriations, and Finance.

[10] In July 1956, Governor Hodges, heeding the advice of the Pearsall Committee, called the North Carolina General Assembly into special session to discuss its proposals.

Philpott joined three other legislators in introducing a joint resolution "of condemnation and protest against oppressive usurpation of power by the Supreme Court of the United States.

[12] Although many conservatives and businessmen were opposed to the measure, Philpott's support helped ensure that a minimum wage statute was adopted.

[1] In 1958, he chaired the Commission of Reorganization of State Government and was finance director for the North Carolina Democratic Party during that year's election cycle.

The two became friends over the course of their respective bids, and Philpott endorsed Sanford's plans to increase spending on public education.

[15] Philpott enjoyed the tacit support of Sanford's campaign manager, Bert Bennett, and the retiring governor Hodges.

[19][20] As lieutenant governor, Philpott had the responsibility of making committee appointments in the North Carolina Senate and had considerable influence over the body's workflow.

[26] On the morning of August 16, 1961, at his country residence near High Rock Lake, Philpott became stricken by severe chest and abdominal pains.

A funeral was held on August 21 in Lexington at the First Baptist Church[27] and Philpott was subsequently buried in Forest Hill Memorial Park.