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]
In January 2007, Wainwright was nominated by his colleagues in the Democratic caucus as Speakerpro 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]
