| Billy Carter | |
|---|---|
Billy Carter (right), greets his brother, President Jimmy Carter, at the commencement ceremonies at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta February 20, 1979. |
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| Born | March 29, 1937 |
| Died | September 25, 1988 (aged 51) |
William Alton "Billy" Carter III (March 29, 1937 – September 25, 1988) was an American businessman who promoted Billy Beer, was a candidate for Mayor of Plains, Georgia, and was the younger brother of United States President Jimmy Carter.
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Born in Plains, Georgia, Carter attended Emory University in the Atlanta area but did not complete a degree. He served four years in the United States Marine Corps, then returned to Plains to work with his brother in the family business of growing peanuts. In 1955, he married Sybil Spires (born 1938), also of Plains, Georgia. They were the parents of six: Kim, Jana, William "Buddy", Marle, Mandy and Earl, who was just 12 years old when his father died.
Billy Carter ran for mayor of Plains in 1976, but lost the election.
In 1977, he endorsed Billy Beer capitalizing upon his colorful image as a beer-drinking Southern good ol' boy that had developed in the press when his brother ran for President. Carter's name was occasionally used as a gag answer for a Washington, D.C. trouble-maker on 1970s episodes of The Match Game. Carter was known for his outlandish public behavior. For example, he once urinated on an airport runway in full view of the press and dignitaries.[1]
Carter would go on to open and operate a gas and service station.
In late 1978 and early 1979, Billy Carter visited Libya three times with a contingent from Georgia. He eventually registered as a foreign agent of the Libyan government and received a $220,000 loan. (Edwin P. Wilson alleged that he had seen a telegram showing that Libyans paid Billy Carter two million dollars.[2]) This led to a Senate hearing over alleged influence peddling which some in the press dubbed "Billygate".[3] A Senate sub-committee was called To Investigate Activities of Individuals Representing Interests of Foreign Governments (Billy Carter-Libya Investigation). On Aug. 4, 1980, President Jimmy Carter wrote: "I am deeply concerned that Billy has received funds from Libya and that he may be under obligation to Libya. These facts will govern my relationship with Billy as long as I am president. Billy has had no influence on U.S. policy or actions concerning Libya in the past, and he will have no influence in the future."[4]
After the failure of Billy Beer, Carter sold his house to settle back taxes with the IRS.
Known as a heavy drinker for many years,[5] Carter was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the fall of 1987, and received unsuccessful treatments for the disease. He died in Plains at the age of 51.[5]
In 1999, Carter's son William "Buddy" Carter published a biography of his father titled Billy Carter: A Journey Through the Shadows (ISBN 1-56352-553-4).
