Wally Barron | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 26th Governor of West Virginia | |
| In office January 16, 1961 – January 18, 1965 | |
| Preceded by | Cecil H. Underwood |
| Succeeded by | Hulett C. Smith |
| 27th Attorney General of West Virginia | |
| In office January 14, 1957 – January 16, 1961 | |
| Governor | Cecil H. Underwood |
| Preceded by | John Fox |
| Succeeded by | Donald Robertson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Wallace Barron December 8, 1911 Elkins, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | November 12, 2002 (aged 90) Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Opal Wilcox |
| Education |
Washington and Lee University (
BA) West Virginia University ( LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | 
United States |
| Branch/service | 
United States Army |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
William Wallace Barron (December 8, 1911 – November 12, 2002) was an American Democratic politician in West Virginia. He was the state's 26th Governor from 1961 to 1965.
Life and career
He was born in Elkins, West Virginia. He attended Washington and Lee University and the West Virginia University Law School. During World War II, he served in the United States Army. In 1949, he was elected mayor of Elkins. He became a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1950 and was re-elected in 1952. He resigned his seat when appointed as Liquor Control Commissioner by Governor William C. Marland subsequent to the 1952 election. He was nominated to Attorney General in 1956.
In 1960, he was elected governor of West Virginia and continued the clean government and civil rights reforms that had been instituted by his predecessor, Cecil H. Underwood. [1]
He died on November 12, 2002, in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Corruption trial and prison
On August 30, 1968, Barron was acquitted of federal charges concerning alleged money kickbacks and rigged state contract schemes in which he and several of his associates were involved. It was later realized that Barron and his wife, Opal Barron, had bribed the jury foreman. Barron was indicted, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in prison, albeit this was reduced to 12 years. He served four years of his sentence. [2]
See also
References
- ^ "William Wallace Barron".
- ^ Anewman (August 30, 2017). "August 30, 1968: Wally Barron Acquitted of Federal Charges". West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
External links
- Biography of William W. Barron
- Inaugural Address of William W. Barron
- William W. Barron's Influence on the West Virginia State Centennial Celebration
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- 1911 births
- 2002 deaths
- 20th-century American lawyers
- 20th-century West Virginia politicians
- American politicians convicted of bribery
- American politicians convicted of federal public corruption crimes
- Democratic Party governors of West Virginia
- Disbarred American lawyers
- Mayors of places in West Virginia
- Democratic Party members of the West Virginia House of Delegates
- Military personnel from West Virginia
- People from Elkins, West Virginia
- Presbyterians from West Virginia
- United States Army personnel of World War II
- United States Army soldiers
- Washington and Lee University alumni
- West Virginia Attorneys General
- West Virginia University College of Law alumni