William J. Sears

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William Joseph Sears
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 4th district
In office March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1929
Preceded by	District created
Succeeded by	Ruth Bryan Owen
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's at-large district
In office March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1937
Preceded by	Seat inactive
Succeeded by	Seat inactive
Personal details
Born	(1874-12-04)December 4, 1874 Smithville, Georgia, U.S.
Died	March 30, 1944(1944-03-30) (aged 69) Kissimmee, Florida, U.S.
Resting place	Rose Hill Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Kissimmee, Florida

William Joseph Sears (December 4, 1874 – March 30, 1944) was a lawyer and U.S. Representative from Florida. A Democrat, he was an avowed White Supremacist.^[1]

Early life and education[]

Born in Smithville, Georgia, Sears moved with his parents to Ellaville, Georgia, and thence to Kissimmee, Florida, in January 1881. He attended the public schools. He graduated from Florida State College at Lake City in 1895 and from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, in 1896.

He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1905 and commenced practice in Kissimmee, and served as its mayor from 1907-1911. Superintendent of public instruction of Osceola County 1905-1915.

Congress[]

Sears was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-fourth and to the six succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1929). He served as chairman of the Committee on Education (Sixty-fifth Congress). He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1928 and resumed the practice of his legal profession in Kissimmee. He moved to Jacksonville, Florida, and continued the practice of law.

Sears was again elected to Congress for the Seventy-third session and Seventy-fourth Congresses (March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1937). He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1936.

Later career and death[]

served as associate member of the Board of Veterans' Appeals of the Veterans' Administration in Washington, D.C., from 1937 until his retirement in October 1942. He died in Kissimmee on March 30, 1944 and was interred in Rose Hill Cemetery.

References[]

• United States Congress. "William J. Sears (id: S000211)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.