William E. Fears
Encyclopedia
William E. Fears was a long-serving Democratic member of the Senate of Virginia
from the 1960s to the 1990s.
on September 28, 1920. He left home at the age of 13 to live with relatives on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and in New York. In 1943, Fears earned a bachelor's degree in metallurgical engineering at Yale University
. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II
. He saw combat as a lieutenant in the 92nd Bombardment Group based in England. After military service, Fears earned a law degree from the University of Cincinnati
. He practiced law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
before relocating to Onancock, Virginia
on Virginia's Eastern Shore in 1950.
stalwart" to secure the Democratic nomination and was subsequently elected to represent the 1st District
.
In 1971, the Virginia General Assembly was redistricted and Senator Fears' home in Accomac County was placed in the 3rd District
which included part of the Virginia Peninsula
in addition to the Eastern Shore counties of Accomac and Northampton
. He was re-elected to the Senate throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In 1991, the 3rd District was redrawn to include more Republican-leaning territory on the Virginia Peninsula. During the legislative session that year, Fears spoke against increasing penalties for drunk driving, saying, "We're going to take all the sport out of drinking and driving." That November, Fears was defeated for relection by Republican Tommy Norment
.
Senate of Virginia
The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 Senators representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia...
from the 1960s to the 1990s.
Early life and career
Fears was born in Jonesboro, ArkansasJonesboro, Arkansas
Jonesboro is a city in and one of the two county seats of Craighead County, Arkansas, United States. According to the 2010 US Census, the population of the city was 67,263. A college town, Jonesboro is the largest city in northeastern Arkansas and the fifth most populous city in the state...
on September 28, 1920. He left home at the age of 13 to live with relatives on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and in New York. In 1943, Fears earned a bachelor's degree in metallurgical engineering at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He saw combat as a lieutenant in the 92nd Bombardment Group based in England. After military service, Fears earned a law degree from the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
. He practiced law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
before relocating to Onancock, Virginia
Onancock, Virginia
Onancock is a town in Accomack County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,525 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Onancock is located at ....
on Virginia's Eastern Shore in 1950.
Political career
Fears served as Commonwealth's Attorney for Accomac County, Virginia until his election to the Virginia Senate in 1967. He defeated incumbent Senator E. Almer Ames, Jr. "a Byrd OrganizationByrd Organization
The Byrd Organization was a political machine led by former Governor and U.S. Senator Harry F. Byrd, Sr. that dominated Virginia politics for much of the middle portion of the 20th century...
stalwart" to secure the Democratic nomination and was subsequently elected to represent the 1st District
Virginia Senate, District 1
District 1 of the Virginia Senate is a senatorial district that encompasses all of the City of Williamsburg, most of the City of Newport News and parts of James City County, York County, the City of Suffolk and the City of Hampton. The current Senator from District 1 is John C...
.
In 1971, the Virginia General Assembly was redistricted and Senator Fears' home in Accomac County was placed in the 3rd District
Virginia Senate, District 3
District 3 of the Virginia Senate is a senatorial district located mostly on the Virginia Peninsula that encompasses all of the city of Poquoson, parts of the cities of Hampton and Suffolk, all of the counties of Gloucester, King and Queen, King William and New Kent and parts of the counties of...
which included part of the Virginia Peninsula
Virginia Peninsula
The Virginia Peninsula is a peninsula in southeast Virginia, USA, bounded by the York River, James River, Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay.Hampton Roads is the common name for the metropolitan area that surrounds the body of water of the same name...
in addition to the Eastern Shore counties of Accomac and Northampton
Northampton County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 12,389 people, 5,321 households, and 3,543 families residing in the county. The population density was 63 people per square mile . There were 6,547 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
. He was re-elected to the Senate throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In 1991, the 3rd District was redrawn to include more Republican-leaning territory on the Virginia Peninsula. During the legislative session that year, Fears spoke against increasing penalties for drunk driving, saying, "We're going to take all the sport out of drinking and driving." That November, Fears was defeated for relection by Republican Tommy Norment
Tommy Norment
Thomas K. "Tommy" Norment, Jr. is an American politician of the Republican Party. Since 1992 he has been a member of the Senate of Virginia...
.