William E. King
| |
|---|---|
| Member of the Illinois Senate from the 1st district | |
| In office 1934–1939 | |
| Preceded by | William Wallace |
| Succeeded by | William Wallace |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 12, 1885 Oak Ridge, Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | October 1, 1967(1967-10-01) (aged 81) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Blanche Hastings |
| Education | Howard University |
| Alma mater | Philander Smith College, John Marshall School of Law |
| Occupation | Lawyer, politician |
| [1][2][3][4][5] | |
| |
William E. King (1885–1967) was an American lawyer and politician in Illinois.[1][6][7] He served as a state legislator in the Illinois House of Representatives for eight years, followed by a full term as a state senator. He represented Illinois's 1st House of Representatives district.[8]
He was born in 1885 in Oak Ridge, Morehouse Parish, Louisiana.[1][3] His parents were Selina and John King.[5] As a child, King attended the Coleman Academy (also Coleman College) in Gibsland, Louisiana.[5]
King earned his undergraduate degree at Philander-Smith CollegeinLittle Rock, Arkansas.[5] He studied law at Howard University followed by John Marshall School of Law, where he graduated in 1915.[5][2][9] His mentor was Oscar Stanton De Priest.[2]
Williams was admitted to the bar in 1916.[3] In June 1919, married Blanche Hastings.[3][5] The following year, 1920, the couple had a daughter, Blanche[5] As a lawyer, he worked from 1919 until 1923 for the City of Chicago as assistant counsel to their corporation department.[1][5] He spent two years as the assistant Illinois Attorney General from 1923 until 1925.[1][5]
A member of the Republican Party,[10] he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1925.[2] He would serve in the House for eight years representing the 1st district.[1] During his tenure in the House, King led successful efforts to make the Ku Klux Klan illegal in Illinois.[2][5] He also served on a committee that studied the impact of the Chicago race riot of 1919.[5]
He defeated William A. Wallace for Illinois State Senate in 1934.[10] In the 1938 general election, King lost in a rematch to Wallace with 19,775 votes to Wallace's 20,2721 votes.[11]
After he lost his Senate campaign, he was industrial commissioner for the State of Illinois, followed by two years as an attorney for a waste management district.[1] In 1944, he unsuccessfully ran for United States Congress.[4][8] He was a delegate for three Republican presidential conventions.[4]
King and Blanche lived on the South Side of Chicago. They raised their niece alongside their daughter, Blanche.[8]
King served as deacon for fifteen years at the Olivet Baptist Church.[8] He was a member of the Elks and the Appomattox Club. He was also a freemason. He served on the board of directors for the Wabash YMCA.[8] In the late 1960s, he remained active in local Republican party activities. He was vice chair of the Cook County Republican Central Commission and a member of the G.O.P. State Central Committee.[3] He practiced law until his death.[4]
King died in October 1967 at his home in Chicago.[4] Jet and The Chicago Tribune published obituaries about him.[3][4] His funeral was held at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago.[4]
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