William W. Blackney
Encyclopedia
William Wallace Blackney (August 28, 1876 – March 14, 1963) was a politician
from the U.S. state
of Michigan
.
Blackney was born in Clio, Michigan
, and attended the public schools there. He went to Olivet College
, Olivet, Michigan
, and Ferris School (now Ferris State University
) in Big Rapids
. He moved to Flint
, in 1904 and served as county clerk of Genesee County
1905-1912. He was graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan
in 1912, was admitted to the bar
the same year, and commenced practice in Flint.
He served as assistant prosecuting attorney of Genesee County 1913-1917, member of the Flint School Board 1924-1934, member of the Republican State central committee 1925-1930, and instructor in the General Motors Company technical night school for sixteen years. He was a delegate to the 1932 Republican National Convention
.
In 1934, Blackney defeated incumbent Claude E. Cady
to be elected as a Republican from Michigan's 6th congressional district
to the U.S. House
for the 74th Congress
, serving from January 3, 1935 to January 3, 1937. He lost to Democrat Andrew J. Transue
in 1936, but defeated him to be re-elected in 1938 to the 76th Congress
. He was subsequently re-elected to the six succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1939 to January 3, 1953.
He was not a candidate for re-election in 1952 and retired to Flint, where he resided until his death, aged 86. He is interred in Woodlawn Cemetery in his birthplace of Clio, Michigan
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Blackney was born in Clio, Michigan
Clio, Michigan
Clio is a city in Genesee County in the U.S. state of Michigan.As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 2,483. Clio is home to Michigan's second tallest construction, the WEYI Tower...
, and attended the public schools there. He went to Olivet College
Olivet College
Olivet College is a coeducational, liberal arts college located in Olivet, Michigan, United States, south of Lansing and west of Detroit. It is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches, and accredited by the North Central...
, Olivet, Michigan
Olivet, Michigan
Olivet is a city in Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,758 at the 2000 census. Olivet College is located there.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
, and Ferris School (now Ferris State University
Ferris State University
Ferris State University is a public university with its main campus in Big Rapids, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1884 as the Big Rapids Industrial School by Woodbridge Nathan Ferris, an educator from New England who later served as governor of the State of Michigan and finally in the US Senate where...
) in Big Rapids
Big Rapids, Michigan
Big Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,849. It is the county seat of Mecosta County. The city is located within Big Rapids Township, but is politically independent.-Geography:...
. He moved to Flint
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
, in 1904 and served as county clerk of Genesee County
Genesee County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69* I-75* I-475-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-13* M-15* M-21* M-54* M-57-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 436,141 people, 169,825 households, and 115,990 families residing in the county. The population density was 682 people per square mile . There were 183,630...
1905-1912. He was graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1912, was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
the same year, and commenced practice in Flint.
He served as assistant prosecuting attorney of Genesee County 1913-1917, member of the Flint School Board 1924-1934, member of the Republican State central committee 1925-1930, and instructor in the General Motors Company technical night school for sixteen years. He was a delegate to the 1932 Republican National Convention
1932 Republican National Convention
The 1932 Republican National Convention was held at Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois, from June 14 to June 16, 1932. It renominated President Herbert Hoover and Vice President Charles Curtis for their respective positions....
.
In 1934, Blackney defeated incumbent Claude E. Cady
Claude E. Cady
Claude Ernest Cady was a politician and businessman from the U.S. state of Michigan.Cady was born in Lansing, Michigan, where he attended the common schools and the high school. He engaged in the wholesale and retail grocery business from 1899 to 1913...
to be elected as a Republican from Michigan's 6th congressional district
Michigan's 6th congressional district
Michigan's 6th congressional district is a United States congressional district in southwest Michigan. It consists of all of Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren, counties, and includes most of southern and eastern Allegan and a portion of western Calhoun counties.-Major...
to the U.S. House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for the 74th Congress
74th United States Congress
-House:Also 2 Delegates, 3 Resident Commissioners-Senate:*President of the Senate: John N. Garner *President pro tempore: Key Pittman -Majority leadership:*Majority leader: Joseph T. Robinson...
, serving from January 3, 1935 to January 3, 1937. He lost to Democrat Andrew J. Transue
Andrew J. Transue
Andrew Jackson Transue was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.Transue was born in Clarksville, Michigan and attended the local schools. He graduated from the Detroit College of Law, LL.B., 1926 and J.D., 1968. He was admitted to the bar in 1926 and commenced the practice of law in...
in 1936, but defeated him to be re-elected in 1938 to the 76th Congress
76th United States Congress
The Seventy-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1939 to January 3, 1941, during the seventh and...
. He was subsequently re-elected to the six succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1939 to January 3, 1953.
He was not a candidate for re-election in 1952 and retired to Flint, where he resided until his death, aged 86. He is interred in Woodlawn Cemetery in his birthplace of Clio, Michigan
Clio, Michigan
Clio is a city in Genesee County in the U.S. state of Michigan.As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 2,483. Clio is home to Michigan's second tallest construction, the WEYI Tower...
.