William L. Wainwright (October 19, 1947 – July 17, 2012) was a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's twelfth House district, including constituents in Craven and Lenoir counties. A church elder from Havelock, North Carolina, Wainwright was serving in his eleventh term in the state House of Representatives when he died in office after a prolonged illness.[6]

William L. Wainwright
Deputy Minority Leader of the
North Carolina House of Representatives
In office
January 26, 2011 – July 17, 2012
LeaderJoe Hackney
Succeeded byMichael Wray
Speaker Pro Tempore of the
North Carolina House of Representatives
In office
January 24, 2007[1] – January 26, 2011
LeaderJoe Hackney
Preceded byRichard Morgan
Succeeded byDale Folwell
Member of the
North Carolina House of Representatives
In office
January 30, 1991[2] – July 17, 2012[3]
Preceded byBev Perdue
Succeeded byBarbara Lee
Constituency3rd District (1991-1993)
79th District[4] (1993-2003)
12th District[5] (2003-2012)
Personal details
BornOctober 19, 1947
Somerville, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedJuly 17, 2012(2012-07-17) (aged 64)
New Bern, North Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Havelock, North Carolina, U.S.
Alma materMemphis State University (BS)
OccupationPresiding Elder

Biography

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William Wainwright was born in Somerville, Tennessee and graduated with a BS degree from Memphis State University in 1970.[7] He was pastor of Piney Grove AME Zion Church from 1985 to 1993.[8]

In January 2007, Wainwright was nominated by his colleagues in the Democratic caucus as Speaker pro tempore of the House.[9] He was elected on January 24, making him the first African American to serve in the number-two post in the House since Reconstruction.[10] He was re-elected Speaker pro tempore in 2009.[11] After Democrats lost their House majority, Wainwright was elected deputy minority leader.[12]

Footnotes

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  1. ^ "North Carolina State House of Representatives 2007-2008". Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  2. ^ "North Carolina State House of Representatives 1991-1992". Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  3. ^ "North Carolina State House of Representatives 2011-2012". Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  4. ^ "North Carolina State House of Representatives 1993-1994". Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  5. ^ "North Carolina State House of Representatives 2003-2004". Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  6. ^ News & Observer: Rep. William Wainwright, a leading Democrat, has died Archived 2012-07-20 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "North Carolina manual [serial]".
  8. ^ North Carolina Manual 1995–1996. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State.
  9. ^ Archived June 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine[dead link]
  10. ^ http://www.stategovernmentradio.com/articlePrint.html?section=25&aid=15878 [dead link]
  11. ^ Beckwith, Ryan Teague (January 28, 2009). "Wainwright named House's No. 2". Raleigh News & Observer. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  12. ^ Christensen, Rob (January 19, 2011). "Democratic House team announced". Raleigh News & Observer. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
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North Carolina House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 3rd district

1991–1993
Served alongside: Gerald L. Anderson, Daniel T. Lilley
Succeeded by
John M. Nichols
Preceded by
Constituency established
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 79th district

1993–2003
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 12th district

2003–2012
Succeeded by
Barbara Lee
Preceded by Speaker pro tempore of the North Carolina House of Representatives
2007–2011
Succeeded by