Bill Nichols (politician)

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = William Flynt Nichols

| image name = Congressman William F. Nichols Official Portrait, 1986 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 1986

| birth_date = October 16, 1918

| birth_place = Monroe County, Mississippi, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|1988|12|13|1918|10|16}}

| death_place = Washington, D.C., U.S.

| state = Alabama

| district = 3rd

| term_start = January 3, 1973

| term_end = December 13, 1988

| preceded = Elizabeth B. Andrews

| succeeded = Glen Browder

| state2 = Alabama

| district2 = 4th

| term_start2 = January 3, 1967

| term_end2 = January 3, 1973

| preceded2 = Glenn Andrews

| succeeded2 = Tom Bevill

| office3 = Member of the Alabama State Senate

| constituency3 = 8th district

| term_start3 = November 7, 1962

| term_end3 = November 9, 1966{{cite web|url=http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/compoundobject/collection/register/id/593|website=digital.archives.alabama.gov|title=Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1963 (Chapter 4, Page 17)|accessdate=September 13, 2019}}

| office4 = Member of the Alabama House of Representatives

| term_start4 = November 5, 1958

| term_end4 = November 7, 1962{{cite web|url=http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/compoundobject/collection/register/id/671|website=digital.archives.alabama.gov|title=Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1959 (Chapter 4, Page 58)|accessdate=September 13, 2019}}

| party = Democratic

| spouse = Maude Carolyn Funderburk

| alma_mater = Auburn University

| children = 3

}}

William Flynt Nichols (October 16, 1918 – December 13, 1988) was a Democratic member of United States House of Representatives from Alabama, having served from 1967 until his death from a heart attack in Washington, D.C. in 1988.

Life

Nichols was born on October 16, 1918. On January 30, 1942, Nichols married Maude Carolyn Funderburk. He was a Methodist, having served on the Board of Stewards of Sylacauga's First Methodist Church.

Nichols died of a heart attack on December 13, 1988.

Education

Nichols received a bachelor's degree in Agriculture in 1939 from the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) and a master's degree in Agronomy from the same institution in 1941.

Military service

Nichols enlisted in the United States Army in 1942 and served five years in the European Theatre. He was wounded at the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, losing a leg in a land mine explosion. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart, and retired with the rank of Captain in 1947.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/14/obituaries/rep-bill-nichols-70-led-pentagon-inquiry.html |title=Rep. Bill Nichols, 70; Led Pentagon Inquiry |work=New York Times |date=December 14, 1988}} Following his retirement, he lived in Sylacauga, Alabama, where he is also buried.

Business career

After military service, Nichols was employed by the Parker Fertilizer Company, and would later become president of the associated Parker Gin Company.{{cite web|last1=Schmidt|first1=Greg|title=William Flynt Nichols|url=http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-3527|website=Encyclopedia of Alabama}}

Politics

=Service in the Alabama Legislature=

Prior to his congressional service, he served over an eight-year period in both houses of the Alabama Legislature, having been elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1958 and the Alabama Senate in 1962.

=Congressional service=

Nichols was elected to congress in 1966 and was reelected each year until his death in 1988.{{Cite web |title=Former Rep. Bill Nichols - D Alabama, 3rd, Not In Office, Died, Dec. 13, 1988 - Biography {{!}} LegiStorm |url=https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/128271/William_Flynt_Nichols.html |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=www.legistorm.com |language=en}}

In 1986, with retiring Republican U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona, Nichols co-authored the Goldwater–Nichols Act, the far-reaching reorganization of the United States Department of Defense command structure.

Nichols voted for the Abandoned Shipwrecks Act of 1987.{{Cite web |title=TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS S 858, ABANDONED SHIPWRECK … -- House Vote #532 -- March 29, 1988 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/100-1988/h532 |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}} The Act asserts United States title to certain abandoned shipwrecks located on or embedded in submerged lands under state jurisdiction, and transfers title to the respective state, thereby empowering states to manage these cultural and historical resources more efficiently, with the goal of preventing treasure hunters and salvagers from damaging them. President Ronald Reagan signed it into law on April 28, 1988.{{Cite web |title=Laws - Division of Historical Resources - Florida Department of State |url=https://dos.fl.gov/historical/archaeology/underwater/laws/#:~:text=On%2028%20April%201988,%20President,authority%20over%20those%20abandoned%20shipwrecks. |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=dos.fl.gov}}

References

External links

{{congbio|N000095}}
[http://www.archives.state.al.us/famous/academy/w_nichol.html Alabama Academy of Honor: William Flynt Nichols]
{{Find a Grave|6812820}}
{{C-SPAN|1000436}}

{{US House succession box

| state=Alabama

| district=4

| before=Glenn Andrews

| after=Tom Bevill

| years=1967–1973}}

{{US House succession box

| state=Alabama

| district=3

| before=Elizabeth B. Andrews

| after=Glen Browder

| years=1973–1988}}