William W. Sellers
Encyclopedia
William Wentworth Sellers (born January 12, 1968) is the fourteenth President of Wentworth Military Academy and College in Lexington, Missouri
, serving since 2008. He is the fourth generation of his family to head the school, following his great-grandfather Sandford Sellers
, who led Wentworth from its founding in 1880 until 1923, his great-uncle Sandford Sellers, Jr.
(1923-1933), his grandfather James M. Sellers
(1933-1960), and his father James M. Sellers, Jr.
(1973-1990). He is also a direct descendant of Academy founder Stephen G. Wentworth
.
After graduating from Wentworth, he entered Harvard University
, where he earned a degree in history. At Harvard, he lettered twice in football, was a member of the 1987 Ivy League
championship team, and was voted by his teammates as the winner of the Henry N. Lamar
Award as the “senior member of the Harvard Football squad who, through his dedication to the program and concern for his fellow man, has made a unique contribution to Harvard football.” In 1997, he earned his juris doctorate from the University of Missouri School of Law
, where he was named to The Order of Barristers
and was a member of the Missouri Environmental Law & Policy Review. Following graduation, he served as a clerk for the Western District of the Missouri Court of Appeals
for a year, then entered private practice in Kansas City, Missouri
, focusing primarily on class actions and complex litigation. In 2008, he was named President of Wentworth Military Academy. Prior to his appointment as President, he had served on Wentworth’s Alumni Council, Board of Visitors, and on the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees.
He is the current president of the Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States
. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the State Historical Society of Missouri
, is a past president of the Harvard Club of Kansas City, and served on the Board of Directors of the Harvard Alumni Association. He is a member of the Missouri Bar Association. He has managed a number of political campaigns, including the 1992 re-election campaign of Congressman Ike Skelton
, formerly Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
Lexington, Missouri
Lexington is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,453 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lafayette County. Located in western Missouri, Lexington lies about 40 miles east of Kansas City and is part of the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
, serving since 2008. He is the fourth generation of his family to head the school, following his great-grandfather Sandford Sellers
Sandford Sellers
Sandford Sellers served as Principal, Superintendent and President of Wentworth Military Academy from 1880 to 1935.Sandford Sellers was born in Kentucky in 1854, but was raised on a ranch in eastern Texas. As a young boy, he worked in cotton and sugar cane fields, As a young adult, he was a...
, who led Wentworth from its founding in 1880 until 1923, his great-uncle Sandford Sellers, Jr.
Sandford Sellers, Jr.
Sandford Sellers, Jr. , was the third Superintendent of Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri, serving from 1923 to 1933.-Biography:...
(1923-1933), his grandfather James M. Sellers
James M. Sellers
Colonel James M. Sellers was a highly decorated Marine in World War I, and served as Commandant, Superintendent and President of Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri from 1920 to 1990.-Biography:...
(1933-1960), and his father James M. Sellers, Jr.
James M. Sellers, Jr.
Colonel James McBrayer Sellers, Jr. , served as Superintendent of Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri from 1973 to 1990....
(1973-1990). He is also a direct descendant of Academy founder Stephen G. Wentworth
Stephen G. Wentworth
Stephen G. Wentworth was the founder of Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri.Stephen Girard Wentworth was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts, on October 10, 1811. He left home at an early age and decided to seek his fortunes in the West. After a short stint in Virginia, he emigrated...
.
Biography
William W. Sellers grew up on the campus of Wentworth Military Academy. He attended Lexington public schools before entering Wentworth in 1982. At Wentworth, he finished first academically in his class all four years, captained the football, basketball and track teams, edited the school yearbook and newspaper, played saxophone in the band, and was company commander of Headquarters Company.After graduating from Wentworth, he entered Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, where he earned a degree in history. At Harvard, he lettered twice in football, was a member of the 1987 Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
championship team, and was voted by his teammates as the winner of the Henry N. Lamar
Henry Lamar (American football)
Henry Nicholson Lamar was an American college boxing coach, college football coach, and professional boxing executive. He served as the head football coach at Harvard University in 1943 and 1944...
Award as the “senior member of the Harvard Football squad who, through his dedication to the program and concern for his fellow man, has made a unique contribution to Harvard football.” In 1997, he earned his juris doctorate from the University of Missouri School of Law
University of Missouri School of Law
University of Missouri School of Law is the law school of the University of Missouri, a state university in the U.S. State of Missouri. It is located on the university's main campus in Columbia, forty minutes from the Missouri State Capitol and Supreme Court in Jefferson City...
, where he was named to The Order of Barristers
The Order of Barristers
The Order of Barristers is a United States national honor society whose purpose is the encouragement of oral advocacy and brief writing skills through effective law school oral advocacy programs. The Order of Barristers seeks to improve these programs through interscholastic sharing of ideas,...
and was a member of the Missouri Environmental Law & Policy Review. Following graduation, he served as a clerk for the Western District of the Missouri Court of Appeals
Missouri Court of Appeals
The Missouri Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court for the state of Missouri. The court handles most of the appeals from the Missouri Circuit Courts. The court is divided into three districts: Eastern The Missouri Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court for the state...
for a year, then entered private practice in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, focusing primarily on class actions and complex litigation. In 2008, he was named President of Wentworth Military Academy. Prior to his appointment as President, he had served on Wentworth’s Alumni Council, Board of Visitors, and on the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees.
He is the current president of the Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States
Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States
The Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States is a nonprofit service organization of schools with military programs approved by the Department of Defense and which maintain good standing in their regional accrediting organizations...
. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the State Historical Society of Missouri
State Historical Society of Missouri
The State Historical Society of Missouri, a private membership and state funded organization, is a comprehensive research facility located in Columbia, Missouri specializing in the preservation and study of Missouri's cultural heritage...
, is a past president of the Harvard Club of Kansas City, and served on the Board of Directors of the Harvard Alumni Association. He is a member of the Missouri Bar Association. He has managed a number of political campaigns, including the 1992 re-election campaign of Congressman Ike Skelton
Ike Skelton
Isaac Newton "Ike" Skelton IV is the former U.S. Representative for . During his tenure, he has served as the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. He is a member for the Democratic Party...
, formerly Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.