title: William L. Wainwright
text: # William L. Wainwright
  
  William L. Wainwright (October 19, 1947 – July 17, 2012) was a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's twelfth House district, including constituents in Craven and Lenoir counties. A church elder from Havelock, North Carolina, Wainwright was serving in his eleventh term in the state House of Representatives when he died in office after a prolonged illness.
  
  ## Biography
  
  William Wainwright was born in Somerville, Tennessee and graduated with a BS degree from Memphis State University in 1970. He was pastor of Piney Grove AME Zion Church from 1985 to 1993.
  
  In January 2007, Wainwright was nominated by his colleagues in the Democratic caucus as Speaker pro tempore of the House. He was elected on January 24, making him the first African American to serve in the number-two post in the House since Reconstruction. He was re-elected Speaker pro tempore in 2009. After Democrats lost their House majority, Wainwright was elected deputy minority leader.
  
  ## Footnotes
  
  * ↑ "North Carolina State House of Representatives 2007-2008". Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  * ↑ "North Carolina State House of Representatives 1991-1992". Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  * ↑ "North Carolina State House of Representatives 2011-2012". Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  * ↑ "North Carolina State House of Representatives 1993-1994". Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  * ↑ "North Carolina State House of Representatives 2003-2004". Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  * ↑ News & Observer: Rep. William Wainwright, a leading Democrat, has died Archived 2012-07-20 at the Wayback Machine
  * ↑ "North Carolina manual [serial]".
  * ↑ North Carolina Manual 1995–1996. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State.
  * ↑ Archived June 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  * ↑ http://www.stategovernmentradio.com/articlePrint.html?section=25&aid=15878
  * ↑ Beckwith, Ryan Teague (January 28, 2009). "Wainwright named House's No. 2". Raleigh News & Observer. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  * ↑ Christensen, Rob (January 19, 2011). "Democratic House team announced". Raleigh News & Observer. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  