William Bacon Oliver (May 23, 1867–May 27, 1948) was a Congressman from Alabama.
He was born in Eutaw, Alabama, graduated from the University of Alabama in 1887 and from the law department in 1889. After additional courses at the University of Virginia in the same year, he was admitted to the Alabama bar, and set up a practice in Tuscaloosa.
He became dean of the law school of the University of Alabama in 1909, serving until 1913, then ran successfully for Congress in 1914, and remained there for eleven Congresses, not standing for reelection in 1936.
He then served as a special assistant to the United States Attorney General from 1939 to 1944, at which time he retired. He died in 1948, and is buried in the Eutaw Cemetery in Eutaw.
The William Bacon Oliver Lock and Dam on the Black Warrior River in Alabama is named after him, as is the Oliver Lake behind the dam.
Famous quotes containing the words william, bacon and/or oliver:
“In enterprise of martial kind,
When there was any fighting,
He led his regiment from behind—
He found it less exciting.”
—Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (1836–1911)
“Houses are built to live in, and not to look on: therefore let use be preferred before uniformity.”
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626)
““A man,” said Oliver Cromwell, “never rises so high as when he knows not whither he is going.” Dreams and drunkenness, the use of opium and alcohol are the semblance and counterfeit of this oracular genius, and hence their dangerous attraction for men. For the like reason they ask the aid of wild passions, as in gaming and war, to ape in some manner these flames and generosities of the heart.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)