William C. Wampler
William C. Wampler Sr. | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 9th district | |
In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1983 | |
Preceded by | W. Pat Jennings |
Succeeded by | Rick Boucher |
In office January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1955 | |
Preceded by | Thomas B. Fugate |
Succeeded by | W. Pat Jennings |
Personal details | |
Born | William Creed Wampler April 21, 1926 newspaperman |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1943–1945 |
Unit | U.S. Naval Reserve |
Battles/wars | World War II |
William Creed Wampler Sr. (April 21, 1926 – May 23, 2012) was an American newspaperman, businessman and Republican politician who served multiple terms in the United States House of Representatives.[1][2]
Early and family life
Born in Pennington Gap near the center of Lee County, Virginia, on April 21, 1926, to hardware store proprietor John Sevier Wampler and his schoolteacher wife, the former Lilian May Wolfe, the child nicknamed Bill Wampler attended the public schools in Bristol, Virginia.[3] He had two older brothers (John S. Wampler Sr. and James A. Wampler) and as the Great Depression ended the family had a live-in maid/lodger.[4]
When Wampler became old enough to enlist, he did, in the
He married Mary Elizabeth Baker on August 23, 1953, in
Career
Wampler worked as a reporter for The Tennessean in 1950 and 1951. He then became a reporter and editorial writer for Big Stone Gap (Virginia) Post in 1951. Wampler then moved to Bristol, Virginia on the Tennessee line where he worked as reporter and copy editor for the Bristol Herald Courier in 1951 and 1952.
Wampler was a member of the board of visitors of Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virginia and was Republican assistant campaign manager for 9th congressional district elections in 1948. He was also the president of the Young Republican Federation of Virginia in 1950 and served as keynote speaker and permanent chairman of the 9th district Republican Convention the same year.
Wampler won election as a Republican to the 83rd Congress (January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1955), during which time he was its youngest member.
After losing his campaign for reelection in 1954 to the 84th Congress, Wampler received a job working for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission during the administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, which he held from January 1955 to March 1956.
However, Wampler returned to Virginia to assist at the family furniture and carpeting businesses as well as to campaign again. However, he lost again in 1956 to the
Thus Wampler worked as vice president and general manager of Wampler Brothers Furniture Company in Bristol from 1957 to 1960, then became the vice president and general manager of Wampler Carpet Company from 1961 to 1966. He also worked on the campaigns of other Republican candidates.
As the
In 1982, Democrat Rick Boucher defeated the 16 year incumbent Wampler by 1,100 votes, and won re-election for decades.[9] Wampler then stopped running for public office on his own behalf, but continued active in politics behind the scenes, his son William C. Wampler, Jr. first winning election a Republican from Bristol to the Virginia Senate in 1988.
Death and legacy
Wampler died in Bristol on May 23, 2012. The section of Interstate 81 from the Tennessee line to the Christiansburg exit has been renamed in his honor.[10]
His son,
References
- ^ "Former U.S. Rep William Wampler Sr. dies". The Washington Times. Associated Press. May 24, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
- ^ "William Wampler former congressman dies". The Washington Post. May 24, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- ^ Lee County Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc., Bicentennial History of Lee County Virginia 1799-1992 p. 44
- ^ 1940 U.S. Federal Census for Bristol City, Virginia 102-2, house number 914, family 179
- ^ Virginia Marriage Records 1936-2014, available online
- ^ "Virginia Elections Database » Search Elections".
- ^ "Virginia Elections Database » Search Elections".
- ^ "Virginia Elections Database » Search Elections".
- ^ Vozzella, Laura (2023-06-28). "William Wampler, former congressman, dies at 86". Washington Post. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
- ^ "Wampler, Sr. To have memorial highway designation". 10 June 2013.
- United States Congress. "William C. Wampler (id: W000121)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-03-28