William Stanley West | |
|---|---|
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| United States Senator fromGeorgia | |
| In office March 2, 1914 – November 3, 1914 | |
| Appointed by | John M. Slaton |
| Preceded by | Augustus O. Bacon |
| Succeeded by | Thomas W. Hardwick |
| Member of theGeorgia Senate | |
| In office 1901-1906 | |
| Member of theGeorgia House of Representatives | |
| In office 1892-1901 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1849-08-23)August 23, 1849 Buena Vista,Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | December 22, 1914(1914-12-22) (aged 65) |
| Party | Democratic |
William Stanley West (August 23, 1849 – December 22, 1914) was aUnited States senator from the state ofGeorgia. He was aDemocrat.[1] He is notable for being the first person appointed to the Senate after ratification of theSeventeenth Amendment made that possible.
West was born inBuena Vista, Georgia, on August 23, 1849. He studied law atMercer University and graduated in 1876. After passing the bar that same year, West became a practicing attorney. West served in theGeorgia House of Representatives from 1892 until 1901 and theGeorgia Senate from 1901 until 1906. He was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 1914 to serve the remainder of the term ofAugustus O. Bacon who had died earlier that year.[1][2] West served untilThomas W. Hardwick was elected to fill Bacon's seat.
Only one month after leaving his senatorial position, West died on December 22, 1914, inValdosta, Georgia.[1] He was buried inSunset Hill Cemetery in that same city.
West was instrumental as a State Senator in establishing the South Georgia State Normal College (nowValdosta State University). In 1906, West and State Representative C.R. Ashley presented bills proposing the establishment of a college in Valdosta to the Georgia Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively. By an act of the Georgia State Legislature that year the establishment of an agricultural, industrial, or normal college in South Georgia was approved. Despite the legislation, no funding was granted until the summer of 1911. West donated fifty acres of land for the campus.[3]
West Hall, built in 1917, is named in his honor.[3]
West's former house in Valdosta, known as theCrescent, is listed in theNational Register of Historic Places. Built in 1898 the old home and grounds now serve as the Valdosta Garden Center, a home for several garden clubs around the city, and is one of the most recognized symbols of the city.[4]
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.
| U.S. Senate | ||
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| Preceded by | U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Georgia March 2, 1914 – November 3, 1914 Served alongside:M. Hoke Smith | Succeeded by |
| Class 2 |  | |
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| Class 3 | ||
