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William S. Mailliard

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William S. Mailliard
8th United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States
In office
March 7, 1974 – February 1, 1977
PresidentRichard Nixon
Gerald Ford
Preceded byJoseph J. Jova
Succeeded byGale W. McGee
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from California
In office
January 3, 1953 – March 5, 1974
Preceded byFranck R. Havenner
Succeeded byJohn L. Burton
Constituency4th district (1953–1963)
6th district (1963–1974)
Personal details
Born
William Somers Mailliard

(1917-06-10)June 10, 1917
Belvedere, California, U.S.
DiedJune 10, 1992(1992-06-10) (aged 75)
Reston, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Elizabeth Whinny
Millicent Fox
Children7
Alma materYale University (BA)
Naval War College
Occupationbanker
Awards
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service
Battles/warsWorld War II

William Somers Mailliard (June 10, 1917 – June 10, 1992) was an American politician and businessman who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 4th and 6th congressional districts from 1953 to 1974.

During his time in Congress, Mailliard was known for his support of environmental conservation and his efforts to protect California's natural resources. He was a strong advocate for the preservation of the Redwood National Park, which was established during his tenure in Congress.

Mailliard also played a key role in the creation of the Point Reyes National Seashore, a protected area of coastline and wilderness in Northern California. He worked to secure funding for the park and helped to guide its development and management.

In addition to his work in Congress, Mailliard was also a successful businessman, and he played a key role in the development of the Mailliard Ranch, a cattle ranch in Sonoma County, California. He was also involved in the wine industry, and he helped to establish the Sonoma County Wine Library, which is now part of the Sonoma County Library system.

Mailliard died in 1992 at the age of 75.

Early life

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William S. Mailliard was born on June 10, 1917, in Belvedere, California.[1] He attended Tamalpais High School in San Rafael, California, and the Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut.[1] He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University in 1939.[1]

Career

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He engaged in the banking business with American Trust Co., San Francisco, Calif., in 1940 and 1941. He served as assistant naval attaché in the United States Embassy in London in 1939 and 1940; with Bureau of Naval Personnel, Washington, D.C., in 1941 and 1942; attended the Naval War College in 1942; was assigned to duty on staff of Seventh Amphibious Force as flag lieutenant and aide to Vice Adm. D.E. Barbey in 1943 and released to inactive duty in March 1946 as a lieutenant commander;[2] Captain, USNR; awarded Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal;.[1] promoted to commander in 1950 and to rear admiral in 1965 in the U.S. Navy Reserve.[2]

He resumed his banking career in 1946 and 1947 and was assistant to the director of the California Youth Authority in 1947 and 1948. An unsuccessful Republican candidate for election in 1948 to the 81st Congress and secretary to Gov. Earl Warren 1948–1951. Executive assistant to the director of the California Academy of Sciences in 1951 and 1952 and elected as a Republican to the 83rd and to the ten succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1953, until his resignation on March 5, 1974. He was succeeded by John Burton, the narrow majority winner of a special election to fill his vacated seat. Mailliard is the last Republican to have represented San Francisco and Marin County in Congress.[2]

He was a permanent Representative of the United States to the Organization of American States with the rank of ambassador, March 7, 1974, to February 1, 1977, and nominated by President Gerald R. Ford and confirmed by the United States Senate on December 10, 1975, to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Foundation and was a resident of the community of Belvedere, California, consisting of the eponymous island, along with part of Corinthian Island, in the San Francisco Bay, just offshore from the Tiburon Peninsula. He moved to San Francisco, California, before his death. Mailliard voted in favor of the 1957 Civil Rights Act,[3] the Civil Rights Act of 1960,[4] the Civil Rights Act of 1964,[5] and the Civil Rights Act of 1968.[6] He voted as well for the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.[7][8]

Personal life

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He and his first wife, Elizabeth Whinny, had four of his seven children: William S. Mailliard Jr, Antoinette Mailliard, Henry Ward Mailliard, and Kristina Mailliard. After a divorce, he married Millicent Fox, and had three more children; Julia Mailliard, Josephine Mailliard, and Leigh Mailliard.[2] Millicent died on May 2, 2022, at 93 years old.[9]

Death

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Mailliard died in Reston, Virginia, on June 10, 1992, his seventy-fifth birthday.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Daniels, Lon (1992-06-11). "William S. Mailliard". The San Francisco Examiner. p. A21. Retrieved 2021-08-29 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ a b c d e William Mailliard Dies, Washington Post, June 12, 1992. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  3. ^ "HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957". GovTrack.us.
  4. ^ "HR 8601. PASSAGE".
  5. ^ "H.R. 7152. PASSAGE".
  6. ^ "TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES FOR INTERFERENCE WITH CIVIL RIGHTS. INTERFERENCE WITH A PERSON ENGAGED IN ONE OF THE 8 ACTIVITIES PROTECTED UNDER THIS BILL MUST BE RACIALLY MOTIVATED TO INCUR THE BILL'S PENALTIES".
  7. ^ "S.J. RES. 29. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN THE USE OF POLL TAX AS A REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS". GovTrack.us.
  8. ^ "TO PASS H.R. 6400, THE 1965 VOTING RIGHTS ACT".
  9. ^ Millicent Mailliard obituary, Washington Post. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
[edit]
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 4th congressional district
1953–1963 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 6th congressional district
1963–1974 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Ranking Member of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
1965–1971 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
1971–1973 		Succeeded by
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