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William Flynt Nichols | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 1986 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromAlabama | |
| In office January 3, 1967 – December 13, 1988 | |
| Preceded by | Glenn Andrews |
| Succeeded by | Glen Browder |
| Constituency | 4th district (1967–1973) 3rd district (1973–1988) |
| Member of theAlabama Senate from the 8th district | |
| In office November 7, 1962 – November 9, 1966[1] | |
| Member of theAlabama House of Representatives | |
| In office November 5, 1958 – November 7, 1962[2] | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 16, 1918 |
| Died | December 13, 1988(1988-12-13) (aged 70) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Auburn University (BS,MS) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1947 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 8th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Hürtgen Forest (WIA) |
| Awards | Bronze Star Purple Heart |
William Flynt Nichols (October 16, 1918 – December 13, 1988) was aDemocratic member ofUnited States House of Representatives fromAlabama, having served from 1967 until his death from a heart attack inWashington, D.C. in 1988.
Nichols was born on October 16, 1918. On January 30, 1942, Nichols married Maude Carolyn Funderburk. He was aMethodist, having served on the Board of Stewards of Sylacauga's First Methodist Church.[3]
Nichols died of a heart attack on December 13, 1988.
Nichols received abachelor's degree inAgriculture in 1939 from theAlabama Polytechnic Institute (nowAuburn University) and amaster's degree inAgronomy from the same institution in 1941.
Nichols enlisted in theUnited States Army in 1942 and served five years in theEuropean Theatre. He was wounded at theBattle of Hürtgen Forest, losing a leg in a land mine explosion. He was awarded theBronze Star Medal and thePurple Heart, and retired with the rank ofCaptain in 1947.[4] Following his retirement, he lived inSylacauga, Alabama, where he is also buried.
After military service, Nichols was employed by the Parker Fertilizer Company, and would later become president of the associated Parker Gin Company.[3]
Prior to his congressional service, he served over an eight-year period in both houses of theAlabama Legislature, having been elected to theAlabama House of Representatives in 1958 and theAlabama Senate in 1962.
Nichols was elected to congress in 1966 and was reelected each year until his death in 1988.[5]
In 1986, with retiring RepublicanU.S. SenatorBarry Goldwater ofArizona, Nichols co-authored theGoldwater–Nichols Act, the far-reaching reorganization of theUnited States Department of Defense command structure.
Nichols voted for theAbandoned Shipwrecks Act of 1987.[6] 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 preventingtreasure hunters and salvagers from damaging them. PresidentRonald Reagan signed it into law on April 28, 1988.[7]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromAlabama's 4th congressional district 1967–1973 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromAlabama's 3rd congressional district 1973–1988 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
