William Winter (politician)

William Winter

William Forrest Winter (born February 21, 1923 in Grenada County , Mississippi ) is a former American politician . He was governor of the state of Mississippi from 1980 to 1984 .

Early years and political advancement

William Winter studied history at the University of Mississippi until 1943 . He was then stationed in the Philippines as a soldier in the US Army . Upon his return to Mississippi, he studied law at the University of Mississippi Law School. During the Korean War he was back in service as a soldier.

Winter became a member of the Democratic Party . In 1947 he was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives, where he remained for eight years. From 1950 to 1951 he was also on the advisory board of US Senator John C. Stennis . In 1959 Winter became a tax collector of his state. He held this office until 1964, when it was abolished on his proposal. He was then State Treasurer of Mississippi. In 1967 he unsuccessfully applied for the office of governor. Between 1972 and 1976, William Winter was Lieutenant Governor Bill Waller's Deputy . Another unsuccessful candidacy for governor followed in 1975. Four years later he made the leap to the highest office in his state.

Mississippi Governor

Winter began his four-year term on January 22, 1980. The focus was on educational policy, racial integration and the preservation of historical facilities and documents. His Education Reform Act marked the first serious attempt in 20 years to improve the state's education system. Public kindergartens were also set up during his tenure.

After the end of his governorship, Winter ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the US Senate. He then worked as a lawyer. From 1997 to 1998 he was also a member of an advisory committee to President Bill Clinton that dealt with racial issues. William Winter received numerous awards. He has three children with his wife Elise Varner.

Web links

• William Winter at the National Governors Association (English)
• Mississippi Historical Society ( Memento from July 2, 2019 in the web archive archive.today )