Will E. Neal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromWest Virginia's4th district | |
| In office January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1959 | |
| Preceded by | Maurice G. Burnside |
| Succeeded by | Ken Hechler |
| In office January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1955 | |
| Preceded by | Maurice G. Burnside |
| Succeeded by | Maurice G. Burnside |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Elmer Neal (1875-10-14)October 14, 1875 |
| Died | November 12, 1959(1959-11-12) (aged 84) |
| Nationality | American, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Alma mater | National Normal University University of Cincinnati |
| Occupation | physician |
William Elmer Neal (October 14, 1875 – November 12, 1959) was aphysician andU.S. Representative fromWest Virginia.
Born on a farm nearProctorville, Ohio, Neal attended the public schools.He graduated from Proctorville High School in 1894.He taught school in Ohio and Kentucky for six years.He graduated fromNational Normal University,Lebanon, Ohio, in 1900 and received a medical degree from theUniversity of Cincinnati in 1906.He commenced the general practice of medicine inHuntington, West Virginia, in 1907.Neal served as mayor of Huntington 1925-1928.He served as member of Huntington Park Board 1931-1952, and West Virginia Public Health Council 1936-1940.He was elected to theWest Virginia House of Delegates in 1951 and 1952.
Neal was elected as aRepublican to the Eighty-third Congress (January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1955), defeating the incumbent Congressman and formerMarshall professorMaurice G. Burnside. Burnside sought a rematch in 1954, and defeated Neal for reelection to the Eighty-fourth Congress.He served as medical consultant toForeign Operations Administration inAfghanistan from February 17, 1955, to June 20, 1955.
Neal challenged Burnside a third time in 1956 and was elected to the Eighty-fifth Congress (January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1959). Neal did not sign the 1956Southern Manifesto and voted in favor of theCivil Rights Acts of 1957.[1] He was defeated for reelection in 1958 by another Marshall professor,Ken Hechler, to the Eighty-sixth Congress. A Republican would not retake this Huntington-based seat, now numbered as the3rd District, until 2014.
He died in Huntington, West Virginia, November 12, 1959 and was interred there in Spring Hill Cemetery.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromWest Virginia's 4th congressional district 1953–1955 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromWest Virginia's 4th congressional district 1957–1959 | Succeeded by |
