William C. Marland | |
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![]() Marland from The Monticola, 1955 | |
24th Governor of West Virginia | |
In office January 19, 1953 – January 14, 1957 | |
Preceded by | Okey L. Patteson |
Succeeded by | Cecil H. Underwood |
24th Attorney General of West Virginia | |
In office December 1, 1949 – February 1, 1952 | |
Governor | Okey L. Patteson |
Preceded by | Ira J. Partlow |
Succeeded by | Chauncey H. Browning, Sr. |
Personal details | |
Born | William Casey Marland March 26, 1918 Johnston City, Illinois |
Died | November 26, 1965 Barrington, Illinois | (aged 47)
Nationality | American |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Valerie Allen Marland |
Children | 4 |
Alma mater | University of Alabama West Virginia University (LLB) |
Profession | Politician, Attorney |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Battles/wars | World War II |
William Casey Marland (March 26, 1918 – November 26, 1965), a Democrat, was the 24th Governor of West Virginia from 1953 to 1957. He is best known for his early attempts to tax companies that depleted the state's natural resources, especially coal, as well as overseeing implementation of school desegregation during the Civil Rights Movement when other Southern governors opposed it. Near the end of his life, he re-entered the public stage when a reporter found him driving a cab in Chicago. He responded to the negative publicity by making a public statement to the media about his recovery from alcoholism and indicated that his new, relatively humble job helped in that recovery.