William A. Blakley
| William A. Blakley | |
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
|
United States Senator from Texas |
|
|
In office January 3, 1961 – June 14, 1961 |
|
| Appointed by | Price Daniel |
| Preceded by | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Succeeded by | John Tower |
|
In office January 15, 1957 – April 28, 1957 |
|
| Appointed by | Allan Shivers |
| Preceded by | Price Daniel |
| Succeeded by | Ralph Yarborough |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Arvis Blakley November 17, 1898 Miami Station, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | January 5, 1976 (aged 77) Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Villa Darnell Blakley |
| Profession | Lawyer, businessman |
William Arvis "Dollar Bill" Blakley (November 17, 1898 – January 5, 1976) was an American senator and businessman from the State of Texas. He served two incomplete terms as Senator, the first in 1957, the second in 1961. He was part of the conservative wing of the Texas Democratic Party and is remembered for running against liberal Democrat Ralph Yarborough in the 1958 election and losing to Republican John Tower in the 1961 special election, yielding the first Republican senator from Texas since Reconstruction.
Blakley was born in Miami Station, Missouri, but moved shortly thereafter with his parents to Arapaho, Oklahoma. He worked a ranch hand as a young man, earning the nickname "Cowboy Bill." Blakley served with the United States Army in the First World War; he was admitted to the bar in 1933 and joined a law firm in Dallas, Texas. In following years, his interests expanded into real estate, ranch land, banking and insurance; by 1957, he was estimated to be worth $300 million.
...
Wikipedia