G. William Whitehurst
Encyclopedia
George William Whitehurst (born March 12, 1925) is a professor and retired politician who served in the United States House of Representatives
from the state of Virginia
. He began his career as a professor at the Norfolk campus of the College of William and Mary
, which became Old Dominion College
in 1962. After serving as Dean of Students
from 1963–1968, Whitehurst left academia for a nineteen-year stay in Congress. Upon retiring from politics, he returned to what was by then Old Dominion University, where he currently holds the chair of Kaufman Lecturer in Public Affairs.
on March 12, 1925. Graduating from Maury High School
in 1942, he served in the United States Navy
as an aviation radioman in the Pacific Theater, from 1943 to 1946.
Whitehurst received his bachelor's degree from Washington and Lee University
in 1950, and his master's degree from the University of Virginia
in 1951. In 1952, Whitehurst received his Ph.D. from West Virginia University
. While attending Washington and Lee University
he joined the Delta Upsilon
Fraternity. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Delta Upsilon
Fraternity. He was an active faculty member at Old Dominion College
from 1950 to 1968.
area. He was the first Republican to represent that part of Virginia since the Civil War
. He was re-elected eight more times, retiring in 1987 after declining to run for a ninth term. For most of his tenure in Congress, he served on the Armed Services Committee. He also served on the Select Committee on Intelligence
and the Ethics Committee
.
After his service in Congress, Whitehurst returned as a faculty member at Old Dominion University in 1987, where he still teaches.
He also served for many years as an analyst for WTKR
in Norfolk. He is also an active United Methodist and has served on the Board of Visitors of the Tidewater Wesley Foundation, the United Methodist Campus Ministry at Old Dominion University, for many years.
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...
from the state of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He began his career as a professor at the Norfolk campus of the College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
, which became Old Dominion College
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University is a state university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
in 1962. After serving as Dean of Students
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
from 1963–1968, Whitehurst left academia for a nineteen-year stay in Congress. Upon retiring from politics, he returned to what was by then Old Dominion University, where he currently holds the chair of Kaufman Lecturer in Public Affairs.
Early life
George William "Dr. Bill" Whitehurst was born in Norfolk, VirginiaNorfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
on March 12, 1925. Graduating from Maury High School
Matthew Fontaine Maury High School
Matthew Fontaine Maury High School, one of five city comprehensive high schools, is a high school located in historic Ghent area of Norfolk, Virginia...
in 1942, he served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as an aviation radioman in the Pacific Theater, from 1943 to 1946.
Whitehurst received his bachelor's degree from Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
in 1950, and his master's degree from the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in 1951. In 1952, Whitehurst received his Ph.D. from West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
. While attending Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
he joined the Delta Upsilon
Delta Upsilon
Delta Upsilon is the sixth oldest international, all-male, college Greek-letter organization, and is the oldest non-secret fraternity in North America...
Fraternity. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Delta Upsilon
Delta Upsilon
Delta Upsilon is the sixth oldest international, all-male, college Greek-letter organization, and is the oldest non-secret fraternity in North America...
Fraternity. He was an active faculty member at Old Dominion College
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University is a state university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
from 1950 to 1968.
Congressional career
Whitehurst was elected to Congress in 1968 as a Republican from a district based in the Hampton RoadsHampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
area. He was the first Republican to represent that part of Virginia since the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He was re-elected eight more times, retiring in 1987 after declining to run for a ninth term. For most of his tenure in Congress, he served on the Armed Services Committee. He also served on the Select Committee on Intelligence
United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
The United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence is a committee of the United States House of Representatives, currently chaired by Mike Rogers. It is the primary committee in the U.S...
and the Ethics Committee
United States House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
The Committee on Ethics, often known simply as the Ethics Committee, is one of the committees of the United States House of Representatives. Prior to the 112th Congress it was known as the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct....
.
After his service in Congress, Whitehurst returned as a faculty member at Old Dominion University in 1987, where he still teaches.
He also served for many years as an analyst for WTKR
WTKR
WTKR is the CBS affiliate television station serving the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, officially known as the Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News DMA. The station is licensed to Norfolk and broadcasts on channel 40 . Its transmitter is located in Suffolk, Virginia...
in Norfolk. He is also an active United Methodist and has served on the Board of Visitors of the Tidewater Wesley Foundation, the United Methodist Campus Ministry at Old Dominion University, for many years.
Further reading
- Whitehurst, G. William. Diary of a Congressman. 2 vols. Norfolk: The Donning CompanyThe Donning CompanyThe Donning Company is a specialty book publisher based in Virginia Beach. It was first established in the mid-1970s to publish a pictorial history of the founders' hometown. Its imprints included Starblaze Graphics.In 1985, Donning became a wholly owned subsidiary of Walsworth Publishing Company...
, 1983, 1985.
External links
- Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Profile, Old Dominion University
- Alumni Recognition Award Recipients for 2004, West Virginia UniversityWest Virginia UniversityWest Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...