William G. Conley

William Gustavus Conley (born January 8, 1866 in Kingwood , West Virginia , † October 21, 1940 in Charleston , West Virginia) was an American politician and from 1929 to 1933 the 18th governor of the state of West Virginia.

Early years and political advancement

After primary school, William Conley was himself a teacher and school councilor in Preston County between 1886 and 1891 . He then studied law at West Virginia University . After graduating and admitted to the bar in 1893, he opened a law firm in Parsons , Tucker County . In 1897 he became a Tucker County District Attorney and in 1901 he was elected Mayor of Parsons. During this time he founded the newspaper "Parsons Advocate", which he published himself. After he returned to Kingwood, he became mayor there from 1906 to 1908. In 1908, Governor William MO Dawson appointed him Attorney General) from West Virginia. He also held this position under Dawson's successor, William E. Glasscock . Between 1924 and 1929 he was a member of his state's education council. He also returned to practice as a lawyer and held executive positions at a West Virginia coal mine. In 1928 he was elected as the Republican Party candidate for the new governor of West Virginia.

West Virginia Governor

Conley's four-year tenure began on March 4, 1929. Most of his tenure was overshadowed by the aftermath of the October 1929 New York stock market crash . In West Virginia too, major problems arose from the global economic crisis, such as an increase in unemployment and financial problems in the banking sector. Here, too, as in the other states, the crisis was only overcome in the further course of the 1930s with the help of the New Deal policy of the federal government under President Franklin D. Roosevelt . During Conley's tenure, several new departments were created within his administration, including an unemployment control bureau and commissions to control libraries, bridges, water use and sport. The governor had to raise taxes to cover budget expenditure, which on the other hand worsened the economic crisis. In addition, a severe drought caused further problems.

After his tenure was over, Conley returned to practice as a lawyer. He was also a member of various legal associations. William Conley died in October 1940. He was married to Bertie Martin, with whom he had five children.

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personal data
SURNAME	Conley, William G.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Conley, William Gustavus (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	January 8, 1866
PLACE OF BIRTH	Kingwood , West Virginia
DATE OF DEATH	October 21, 1940
Place of death	Charleston , West Virginia