William Vollie Alexander Jr.

William Vollie Alexander Jr. (born January 16, 1934) is a retired American politician who represented the U.S. state of Arkansas in the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to 1993, rising to the post of Chief Deputy Majority Whip.

Bill Alexander
House Democratic Chief Deputy Whip
In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1987
Leader	Tip O'Neill
Preceded by	Dan Rostenkowski
Succeeded by	David Bonior
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arkansas's 1st district
In office January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by	Ezekiel C. Gathings
Succeeded by	Blanche Lincoln
Personal details
Born	William Vollie Alexander Jr. January 16, 1934 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Debi Drury Alexander ​ ​ (m. after 1989)​
Education	University of Arkansas Rhodes College (BA) Vanderbilt University (LLB)
Military service
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1953–1955
Rank	Captain
Unit	J.A.G. Corps

Early life and education

Alexander was born in Memphis, Tennessee to Spencer (née Buck) and William V. Alexander Sr. He grew up in Osceola, Arkansas, graduating from Osceola High School in 1951, and became an Eagle Scout the same year.

He attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, before earning a B.A. from Southwestern at Memphis University (now Rhodes College) in 1957 and a LL.B from Vanderbilt University Law School in Nashville in 1960.

Career

He subsequently clerked for Judge Marion S. Boyd of the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee.[1][2] He served in the U.S. Army JAG Corps.

Alexander practiced law in Memphis and Osceola, was a commissioner on the Arkansas Waterways Commission, and secretary of the Osceola Port Authority. He was elected as a Democrat from Arkansas's 1st congressional district in 1968, succeeding thirty-year incumbent E. C. "Took" Gathings, who retired, and would subsequently be reelected eleven additional time. In the House, he served in the Democratic leadership as Chief Deputy Majority Whip from 1981 to 1987, and was a member of the House Appropriations Committee, where he was active on issues involving agriculture, energy and foreign trade.[1][2]

In 1992, Alexander was one of the numerous members of Congress linked to the House banking scandal, having over drafted 487 checks from the House bank. Shortly before the Democratic primary that year, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette published a story accusing Alexander of misusing campaign funds, although these transactions were later found to be legal. Nonetheless, he was defeated for re-nomination by Blanche Lambert (later to be known as Blanche Lincoln), a former staff assistant to Alexander, who went on to win the general election in November.[1]

Alexander and his wife, Debi Alexander, today live in McLean, Virginia.[1]

References

1. Goss, Kay C. "William Vollie (Bill) Alexander Jr. (1934–)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
2. "ALEXANDER, William Vollie (Bill), Jr. (1934-)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

External links

• United States Congress. "William Vollie Alexander Jr. (id: A000103)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• "Alexander, William Vollie (Bill) Jr". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2006-07-11.
• Appearances on C-SPAN