American politician (1942–2019)
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 .
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]
Sources
References
^ a b c Mississippi. Legislature (1976-01-01). "Hand book : biographical data of members of Senate and House, personnel of standing committees [1976]" . Mississippi Legislature Hand Books .
^ a b "Representative William J. 'Billy' McCoy (MS)" . Project Vote Smart. Retrieved December 18, 2010 .
^ "McCoy wins 2nd term as Miss. House speaker over GOP vote" . The Natchez Democrat . Associated Press. January 9, 2008. Archived from the original on September 4, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2010 .
^ "Speaker McCoy won't seek re-election" Clarion-Ledger May 25, 2011
^ "Mississippi House of Representatives William J. McCoy" . Mississippi House of Representatives. Retrieved December 18, 2010 .
^ Vance, Taylor (November 12, 2019). "Billy J. McCoy, former Speaker of House, dies" . Daily Journal . Retrieved November 12, 2019 .