William J. (Billy) McCoy
Encyclopedia
William J. "Billy" McCoy (born August 14, 1942), is a farmer
and Democratic
politician
from Rienzi, Mississippi
. He is the incumbent Speaker of the House of Representatives
of the State of Mississippi.
, attended Northeast Mississippi Junior College, and graduated from Mississippi State University
. He has worked as a vocational agriculture teacher and as a loan officer
for the Farmers Home Administration
, as well as a school auditor for the Mississippi State Department of Audit. He continues as a farmer.
of Columbus
, who was supported by the Republicans in the House and by Republican governor Haley Barbour
.
On May 25, 2011, McCoy announced that he would not seek re-election to the State House.
, Freemason, and a member of the Farm Bureau. He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Northeast Mississippi Community College
.
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
and Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Rienzi, Mississippi
Rienzi, Mississippi
Rienzi is a town in Alcorn County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 330 at the 2000 census.-History:Rienzi was named for Cola di Rienzo, a medieval Italian politician...
. He is the incumbent Speaker of the House of Representatives
Mississippi House of Representatives
The Mississippi House of Representatives is the lower house of the Mississippi Legislature, the lawmaking body of the U.S. state of Mississippi....
of the State of Mississippi.
Background
McCoy was born August 14, 1942 in BoonevilleBooneville, Mississippi
Booneville is a city in Prentiss County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 8,625 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Prentiss County....
, attended Northeast Mississippi Junior College, and graduated from Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
. He has worked as a vocational agriculture teacher and as a loan officer
Loan officer
A loan officer is a person who serves as an intermediary between lending institutions and borrowers. They solicit loans, represent creditors to borrowers, and represent borrowers to creditors....
for the Farmers Home Administration
Farmers Home Administration
In 1946 Farmers Home Administration replaced the Farm Security Administration which superseded the Resettlement Administration. Its mission and programs involved extending credit for agriculture and rural development. Direct and guaranteed credit went to individual farmers, low-income families,...
, as well as a school auditor for the Mississippi State Department of Audit. He continues as a farmer.
House of Representatives
McCoy became a member of the House in 1980, and was elected Speaker in 2004. In 2008, he faced (and beat) a challenge by conservative fellow Democrat, now Republican Jeff SmithJeff Smith (Mississippi politician)
Jeffrey Smith is a lawyer and politician currently serving as a Republican member of the Mississippi House of Representatives. He has represented the 39th District since 1992. Smith switched from the Democratic Party to the Republicans on June 1, 2011...
of Columbus
Columbus, Mississippi
Columbus is a city in Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States that lies above the Tombigbee River. It is approximately northeast of Jackson, north of Meridian, south of Tupelo, northwest of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and west of Birmingham, Alabama. The population was 25,944 at the 2000 census...
, who was supported by the Republicans in the House and by Republican governor Haley Barbour
Haley Barbour
Haley Reeves Barbour is an American Republican politician currently serving as the 63rd Governor of Mississippi. He gained a national spotlight in August 2005 after Mississippi was hit by Hurricane Katrina. Barbour won re-election as Governor in 2007...
.
On May 25, 2011, McCoy announced that he would not seek re-election to the State House.
Private life
McCoy is married to the former Edith Leatherwood. He is a BaptistBaptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
, Freemason, and a member of the Farm Bureau. He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Northeast Mississippi Community College
Northeast Mississippi Community College
Northeast Mississippi Community College, also known as NEMCC, is a public, comprehensive community college. NEMCC is a located in Booneville, Mississippi, USA...
.