Bill Phelps facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Phelps
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Phelps in 1975
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| 40th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri | |
| In office January 8, 1973 – January 12, 1981 |
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| Governor | Kit Bond Joseph P. Teasdale |
| Preceded by | William S. Morris |
| Succeeded by | Ken Rothman |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Cunningham Phelps
April 5, 1934 Nevada, Missouri |
| Died | March 19, 2019 (aged 84) Houston, Texas |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Joanne |
William Cunningham Phelps (born April 5, 1934 – died March 19, 2019) was an important Republican politician and lawyer from Missouri. He is best known for serving as the 40th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri for two terms.
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Who Was William Phelps?
William "Bill" Phelps was born and grew up in Nevada, Missouri. He became a well-known figure in Missouri politics. He was known for his dedication to public service.
Early Life and Education
Phelps went to the University of Missouri. He studied economics and earned his degree in 1956. Later, he continued his studies and received a law degree in 1959. After finishing school, he started working as a lawyer. He joined a law firm in Kansas City.
A Career in Public Service
Bill Phelps spent many years working for the people of Missouri. He held several important political positions.
Serving in the State House
In 1960, Phelps was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives. This is where state laws are made. He represented the Kansas City area. He was very popular and was re-elected five times. This means he served in the House for 12 years.
Becoming Lieutenant Governor
In 1972, Phelps was elected as the 40th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri. The Lieutenant Governor is like the second-in-command to the Governor. They help lead the state. Phelps promised to be Missouri's first "full-time" Lieutenant Governor. This meant he would focus only on this job. After he was elected, he stopped working as a lawyer. He was re-elected in 1976, serving two terms until 1981.
Later Political Efforts
After his time as Lieutenant Governor, Phelps tried for other political roles. In 1980, he ran for Governor of Missouri. However, he did not win the Republican party's nomination. Former Governor Kit Bond won instead.
Later, in 1996, Phelps ran for Congress. He wanted to represent Missouri's 4th congressional district. He won his party's primary election. But he was defeated in the main election by the person already holding the position, Ike Skelton.
Advocating for Tax Changes
After his political career, Phelps became a national spokesman. He worked for a group called Americans for Fair Tax. This group supports changing the way taxes are collected. They believe in replacing the income tax with a national sales tax.
His Final Years
William Phelps passed away on March 19, 2019. He died in Houston, Texas, after a short illness. He was 84 years old.
