William Green Poindexter III (January 10, 1944 – November 25, 2024) was an American politician who served as a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1976 to 1993.

Will Green Poindexter
Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
from the multiple district
31st (1984-1993)
32nd (1980-1984)
13th (1976-1980)
In office
January 1976 – January 1993
Preceded byOtis B. Bennett
Clyde E. Wood
Succeeded byWilliam Richardson
Personal details
Born(1944-01-10)January 10, 1944
Greenwood, Mississippi, U.S.
DiedNovember 25, 2024(2024-11-25) (aged 80)
Inverness, Mississippi, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic

Early life

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William Green Poindexter was born on January 10, 1944, in Greenwood, Mississippi.[1] He graduated from Greenwood High School, and graduated from Mississippi State University in 1967 with a bachelor's degree, double majoring in history and government.[1] After his graduation, Poindexter spent one year under the staff of U. S. senator from Mississippi John C. Stennis in Washington, D. C.[1] Poindexter then returned to Sunflower and Leflore Counties in Mississippi where he farmed.[1]

Political career

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Poindexter was elected Mayor of Inverness, Mississippi, in 1971, and became the youngest person elected to that office in town history.[1] After his tenure ended, Poindexter was elected to represent the 13th district (Sunflower County) in the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1975 for the 1976–1980 term.[1][2] He was re-elected in 1979 for the 32nd district for the 1980–1984 term, and was also re-elected in 1983 (31st district), 1987 (31st district), and 1991 (31st district).[1][3][4][5][6] In 1992, the House seats were required to be redistricted to better reflect the state's black population.[7] Poindexter lost the following 1992 election to William Richardson, a black teacher at Gentry High School in Indianola.[8] In 1993, Poindexter joined the staff of Mississippi Governor Kirk Fordice as a legislative liaison. He also served as a liaison for Fordice on agricultural issues.[1]

Death

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Poindexter died at his home in Inverness, Mississippi, on November 25, 2024, at the age of 80.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "House Resolution 15". billstatus.ls.state.ms.us. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  2. ^ Mississippi. Legislature (1976-01-01). "Hand book : biographical data of members of Senate and House, personnel of standing committees [1976]". Mississippi Legislature Hand Books.
  3. ^ Mississippi. Legislature (1980-01-01). "Hand book : biographical data of members of Senate and House, personnel of standing committees [1980]". Mississippi Legislature Hand Books: 38.
  4. ^ "house/1984-88 - House of Representatives (1948-2016)". MS Digital Archives. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  5. ^ "house/1988-92 - House of Representatives (1948-2016)". MS Digital Archives. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  6. ^ "house/1992-96 - House of Representatives (1948-2016)". MS Digital Archives. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  7. ^ Smothers, Ronald (1992-08-09). "New Districts and Loyalties Fueling Black Political Surge in Mississippi". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  8. ^ "Primary". The Commercial Appeal. 1992-08-05. p. 8. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  9. ^ "William Green Poindexter III". Burton Funeral Home. November 26, 2024.