William J. McCoy (August 14, 1942 – November 12, 2019) was an American farmer and Democratic politician from Rienzi, Mississippi. He was the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the State of Mississippi.
William J. McCoy | |
|---|---|
 McCoy in 2011 | |
| 60th Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives | |
| In office January 6, 2004 – January 3, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Tim Ford |
| Succeeded by | Philip Gunn |
| Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 3rd district | |
| In office January 1980 – January 3, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Don Chambliss[1] Ralph H. Doxey[1] Gene Manning[1] |
| Succeeded by | William Tracy Arnold |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 14, 1942 Booneville, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | November 12, 2019 (aged 77) Tupelo, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Northeast Mississippi Community College Mississippi State University |
Background
McCoy was born August 14, 1942, in Booneville, attended Northeast Mississippi Junior College, and graduated from Mississippi State University. He has worked as a vocational agriculture teacher and as a loan officer for the Farmers Home Administration, as well as a school auditor for the Mississippi State Department of Audit. He also farmed.[2]
House of Representatives
McCoy became a member of the House in 1980, and was elected Speaker in 2004. In 2008, he faced (and beat) a challenge by conservative fellow Democrat, later Republican Jeff Smith of Columbus, who was supported by the Republicans in the House and by Republican governor Haley Barbour.[3]
On May 25, 2011, McCoy announced that he would not seek re-election to the State House.[4]
Personal life
McCoy married Edith Leatherwood. He was a Baptist, Freemason, and a member of the Farm Bureau.[2] He served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Northeast Mississippi Community College.[5] He died on November 12, 2019, at the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, Mississippi. He was 77 years old.[6]