Bill Boner | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mayor of Nashville | |
| In office 1987 – September 27, 1991 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Fulton |
| Succeeded by | Phil Bredesen |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromTennessee's5th district | |
| In office January 3, 1979 – October 5, 1987 | |
| Preceded by | Clifford Allen |
| Succeeded by | Bob Clement |
| Member of theTennessee Senate | |
| In office January 4, 1977 – January 3, 1979 | |
| Member of theTennessee House of Representatives | |
| In office January 7, 1975 – January 4, 1977 | |
| Preceded by | Ernest Fleming |
| Succeeded by | Ernest Fleming |
| Constituency | 52nd district |
| In office January 5, 1971 – January 2, 1973 | |
| Preceded by | Walter Morgan |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Constituency | Davidson's 3rd district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Hill Boner (1945-02-14)February 14, 1945 (age 81) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | Middle Tennessee State University (BS) Peabody College (MA) Nashville School of Law (JD) |
William Hill Boner (born February 14, 1945) is an American educator and formerDemocratic politician fromTennessee. He was the thirdmayor of theMetropolitan government ofNashville andDavidson County, serving from 1987 to 1991.[1] He served in the U.S. House of Representatives, as the Representative from the 5th District of Tennessee, from 1979 to 1987.[2]
In high school, Bill Boner was a basketball player and tennis player for the East Nashville Eagles.[3] On March 13, 1962, his team won the state championship. Boner scored 18 points within six minutes and 48 seconds in the second quarter.[4] He was elected student body president for the 1962-1963 school year, his senior year.[5] He was also elected governor of Boy's State despite not planning to run until the last minute.[6] He and his teammate missed part of the basketball season that year due to injuries from a car accident. A cheerleader from the nearbyGlencliff High School cheerleader was critical condition.[7] Nonetheless, he was selected for the first team All-Nashville in 1963.[8] Boner attendedMiddle Tennessee State University, where he was elected president of the freshman class and played basketball.[6][9] He participated in campus life, including a panel on religion, and gave a presentation called "Decision-Making in Personal Life" at a church's study series called "Moral Man and Moral Society".[10][11] After university, he became the manager of aShell station inSmyrna.[12] On February 1, 1969, he became the basketball coach forTrevecca Nazarene College and took on a teaching role in the physical education department.[13] During his first year coaching,The Tennessean called the team "loveable losers" for its remarkably poor performance.[13]
In 1986, Boner came under investigation by theHouse Ethics Committee for misusing campaign funds, not disclosing conflicts of interest, receiving an undisclosed gift and receiving a bribe from a government contractor.[14]
In 1987, Nashville MayorRichard Fulton was prevented from running for a fourth term. Boner entered the race. He was opposed by managed health care executivePhil Bredesen. Boner won the first round, but was short of a majority. Under the Metro Charter, Boner defeated Bredesen in arunoff and became mayor of Nashville.
During his term as mayor, Boner made a controversial appearance on the October 15, 1990 episode ofThe Phil Donahue Show.[15]
Boner appeared on the show with Traci Peel, a country singer in Nashville. The couple were engaged while Boner was still married to his third wife. In theDonahue appearance, Boner played harmonica, while Peel sang "Rocky Top".[15]
Boner and Peel married and divorced.[16]
Boner did not seek reelection for a second term..[17][18] Following retirement from political office, Boner owned a pallet factory inTompkinsville, Kentucky, and purchased a restaurant franchise inAtlanta.[17]
Boner returned to the Nashville area, becoming a social studies teacher atFranklin High School inFranklin, Tennessee.[17] He was a driver's education instructor for the Williamson School System.[17]
In 1995 and 1996, Boner hosted a nightly hour-long television interview show on Nashville'sWNAB calledPrime Talk.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromTennessee's 5th congressional district 1979–1987 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Mayor of Nashville 1987–1991 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative |
