Preceded by J. P. Shelton Name Ryan Sr. Religion Prebysterian | Occupation attorney, legislator Role Politician Children Ryan DeGraffenried | |
Full Name William Ryan DeGraffenried Born April 15, 1925Tuscaloosa, Alabama ( 1925-04-15 ) Spouse(s) Margaret Nell Maxwell (1945–1966; his death) Died February 10, 1966, Fort Payne, Alabama, United States | ||
William Ryan DeGraffenried Sr. (April 15, 1925 – February 10, 1966) was an attorney and politician from Alabama. He was the son of Edward deGraffenried, former U.S. congressman from Alabama. He married Margaret Nell Maxwell in July 1945.
A Tuscaloosan, DeGraffenried ran for Governor of Alabama on two occasions (1962 and 1966). On his first attempt, he was defeated in the Democratic primary runoff by George Wallace, who was later elected Governor.
In 1966, DeGraffenried ran again as a moderate, supporting racial integration. He sought to succeed the Dixiecrat-style Wallace, who was prohibited by the constitution from running for a second term. One day after qualifying for the gubernatorial race, DeGraffenried died in a plane crash while campaigning in northeast Alabama near Fort Payne. Lurleen Wallace, wife of the former governor, won the nomination and gubernatorial election.
His son, Ryan DeGraffenried Jr. (1950–2006), became a notable Alabama politician. He served as State Senator, Senate president pro tempore and Lieutenant Governor of Alabama under Jim Folsom Jr. (1993–1995).