William Winter (politician)

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William Forrest Winter (b. Grenada, Mississippi, February 21, 1923) is an American politician from Mississippi. He served as governor of Mississippi from 1980 to 1984 as a Democrat. He is known for his strong support of public education, racial reconciliation, and historic preservation. Winter is best remembered for the passage of the Mississippi Education Reform Act. The law was the first serious attempt at improving state education in over 20 years and among other things established public kindergardens.

He is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and the Ole Miss law school, where he served as Editor of the Mississippi Law Journal. During World War II, Winter served in the United States Infantry in the Philippines.

Winter first entered politics in 1947. While in law school, Winter was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives. He was subsequently re-elected in 1951 and 1955. He served as Tax Collector of the State of Mississippi as well as State Treasurer and Lieutenant Governor.

After finishing his term as governor, he unsuccessfully ran for the United States Senate that year against Republican incumbent Thad Cochran.

He was a member of President Clinton’s Advisory Board on Race in 1997-1998. The William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation at the University of Mississippi bears his namesake.

William Winter currently practices law in the law firm of Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A., based in Jackson, Mississippi, the state's capital, with offices in Gulfport and Olive Branch, Mississippi.