William L. Wainwright (October 19, 1947 – July 17, 2012) was a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's twelfth House district, including constituents in Craven and Lenoir counties. A church elder from Havelock, North Carolina, Wainwright was serving in his eleventh term in the state House of Representatives when he died in office after a prolonged illness.[6]
William L. Wainwright | |
|---|---|
| Deputy Minority Leader of the North Carolina House of Representatives | |
| In office January 26, 2011 – July 17, 2012 | |
| Leader | Joe Hackney |
| Succeeded by | Michael Wray |
| Speaker Pro Tempore of the North Carolina House of Representatives | |
| In office January 24, 2007[1] – January 26, 2011 | |
| Leader | Joe Hackney |
| Preceded by | Richard Morgan |
| Succeeded by | Dale Folwell |
| Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives | |
| In office January 30, 1991[2] – July 17, 2012[3] | |
| Preceded by | Bev Perdue |
| Succeeded by | Barbara Lee |
| Constituency | 3rd District (1991-1993) 79th District[4] (1993-2003) 12th District[5] (2003-2012) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 19, 1947 Somerville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | July 17, 2012 (aged 64) New Bern, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence(s) | Havelock, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Memphis State University (BS) |
| Occupation | Presiding Elder |
Biography
William Wainwright was born in Somerville, Tennessee and graduated with a BS degree from Memphis State University in 1970.[7] He was pastor of Piney Grove AME Zion Church from 1985 to 1993.[8]
In January 2007, Wainwright was nominated by his colleagues in the Democratic caucus as Speaker pro tempore of the House.[9] He was elected on January 24, making him the first African American to serve in the number-two post in the House since Reconstruction.[10] He was re-elected Speaker pro tempore in 2009.[11] After Democrats lost their House majority, Wainwright was elected deputy minority leader.[12]