William R. Spaulding facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Spaulding
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| Council of the District of Columbia, Ward 5 | |
| In office 1975–1987 |
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| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Harry Thomas Sr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 15, 1924 |
| Died | November 1, 2021 (aged 97) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Washington, D.C. |
| Alma mater | Howard University (B.S.) |
| Occupation | Teacher, professor, engineer |
William Ridley Spaulding (born June 15, 1924 – died November 1, 2021) was an important American politician. He served in the 1970s and 1980s as one of the first members of the Council of the District of Columbia. This happened after Washington, D.C. gained "home rule" in 1973. Home rule meant that the people of D.C. could elect their own local government officials.
William Spaulding's Early Life and Education
William Spaulding was born in North Carolina. He later moved to Washington, D.C. to attend Howard University. This university is a private school with a rich history, especially for Black students.
In 1947, he graduated from Howard with a Bachelor of Science degree. His major was mechanical engineering. After college, he worked as a teacher in D.C. public schools from 1947 to 1952. He also taught at his old university, Howard, from 1950 to 1960.
At the same time, he worked as an engineer. From 1952 to 1974, he was an engineer at the National Security Agency (NSA). In 1955, he married Dolores Hinton, who was studying music education at Howard. They had three daughters: Deirdre, Michele, and Angelyn.
A Career in Public Service
After the U.S. Congress passed the District of Columbia home rule law, William Spaulding decided to enter politics. He left his job at the NSA to run for a seat on the D.C. Council. He took office in 1975.
While serving on the Council, he also took on other roles. In 1978, he became the producer of a popular local talent show called Metro Talent Search. In 1980, he started teaching at the University of the District of Columbia. This is another important historically Black university.
Spaulding also helped lead several community groups. He was the chair of the Fort Lincoln Foundation. He also served on the boards of the Kidney Foundation and the American Heart Association.
He represented Ward 5 on the D.C. Council from 1975 to 1987. In 1986, he lost his re-election bid to Harry Thomas Sr. However, he continued his government career. He became the director of the Department of Administrative Services for the District of Columbia Court System.
In February 2005, William and Dolores Spaulding celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. The D.C. Council honored them for their many years of public service. William Spaulding passed away on November 1, 2021, at the age of 97.
