William Arvis BLAKLEY, Congress, TX (1898-1976)

BLAKLEY, William Arvis, a Senator from Texas; born in Miami Station, Saline County, Mo., November 17, 1898; moved with his parents to Arapaho, Custer County, Okla.; during the First World War served in the United States Army; admitted to the bar in 1933 and commenced practice in Dallas, Tex.; appointed on January 15, 1957, as a Democrat by the Governor to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Price Daniel and served from January 15, 1957, to April 28, 1957; declined to be a candidate for election to the vacancy; unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for a full term to the United States Senate in 1958; again appointed by the Governor on January 3, 1961, to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Lyndon B. Johnson and served from January 3, 1961, to June 14, 1961; unsuccessful candidate to fill the vacancy; resumed former business interests; died in Dallas, Tex., January 5, 1976; interment in Restland Memorial Park.

Bibliography

Welch, June Rayfield. “Bill Blakley Looked Like a Texas Senator.” In The Texas Senator, pp. 64-65. Dallas: G.L.A. Press, 1978; Welch, June Rayfield. “Bill Blakley Served in Both Senatorial Lines.” In The Texas Senator, pp. 144-47. Dallas: G.L.A. Press, 1978.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present