William Chester Lankford
Encyclopedia
William Chester Lankford (December 7, 1877 – December 10, 1964) was an American
politician, teacher, jurist and lawyer from the state of Georgia
.
Lankford was born in the Camp Creek Community of Clinch County
, Georgia
in 1874 and graduated from the Jasper Normal Institute in Jasper, Florida
in 1897, the Georgia Normal College and Business Institute in Abbeville, Georgia
, in 1900. He then studied law at the University of Georgia School of Law
and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws
(LL.B.) degree in 1901.
After moving to Douglas, Georgia
in 1901, Lankford began the practice of law in that city. In 1906, he was elected as Mayor
of Douglas and became a member of the city Board of Education the following year. He remained on that board until 1918. On January 1, 1908, Lankford became a judge of the city court. He resigned that post on May 1, 1916, to run an unsuccessful campaign that year for the United States House of Representatives
. Lankford ran again for the 66th United States Congress
in 1918 and was elected as a Democrat to represent Georgia's 11th congressional district
. He won reelection to that seat six additional terms before losing his reelection bid in 1932.
Following his congressional service, Lankford returned to practicing law. He worked in the General Accounting Office
in Washington, D.C.
from January 1935 through October 1942. On December 10, 1964, he died in Twin Lakes, Georgia and was buried in Douglas Cemetery in the city of Douglas.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, teacher, jurist and lawyer from the state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Lankford was born in the Camp Creek Community of Clinch County
Clinch County, Georgia
Clinch County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 14, 1850, named in honor of Duncan Lamont Clinch. As of 2000, the population is 6,878. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 6,992...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in 1874 and graduated from the Jasper Normal Institute in Jasper, Florida
Jasper, Florida
Jasper is a city in Hamilton County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,780 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,848 . It is the county seat of Hamilton County. The United Methodist Church in Jasper, Florida is on the National Register...
in 1897, the Georgia Normal College and Business Institute in Abbeville, Georgia
Abbeville, Georgia
Abbeville is a city in Wilcox County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,908 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Wilcox County.- History :...
, in 1900. He then studied law at the University of Georgia School of Law
University of Georgia School of Law
The University of Georgia School of Law is a graduate school of the University of Georgia. Founded in 1859 and located in Athens, Georgia, USA, Georgia Law was formerly known as the Lumpkin School of Law. The Law School is the second oldest of the University's schools and colleges. The University...
and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
(LL.B.) degree in 1901.
After moving to Douglas, Georgia
Douglas, Georgia
Douglas is a city in Coffee County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 11,589. Douglas is the county seat of Coffee County and the core city of the Douglas, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area which has a population of 48,708 as of the 2008 census...
in 1901, Lankford began the practice of law in that city. In 1906, he was elected as Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Douglas and became a member of the city Board of Education the following year. He remained on that board until 1918. On January 1, 1908, Lankford became a judge of the city court. He resigned that post on May 1, 1916, to run an unsuccessful campaign that year for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. Lankford ran again for the 66th United States Congress
66th United States Congress
The Sixty-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, comprising the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1919 to March 4, 1921, during the last two years of...
in 1918 and was elected as a Democrat to represent Georgia's 11th congressional district
Georgia's 11th congressional district
Georgia's 11th congressional district is congressional district in the U.S. state of Georgia. Located in the northwestern part of the state, the district includes Marietta...
. He won reelection to that seat six additional terms before losing his reelection bid in 1932.
Following his congressional service, Lankford returned to practicing law. He worked in the General Accounting Office
Government Accountability Office
The Government Accountability Office is the audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of the United States Congress. It is located in the legislative branch of the United States government.-History:...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
from January 1935 through October 1942. On December 10, 1964, he died in Twin Lakes, Georgia and was buried in Douglas Cemetery in the city of Douglas.