William Hill Boner | |
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65th Mayor of Nashville, Tennessee | |
In office 1987–1991 |
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Preceded by | Richard Fulton |
Succeeded by | Phil Bredesen |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 5th district |
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In office January 3, 1979 – October 5, 1987 |
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Preceded by | Clifford Allen |
Succeeded by | Bob Clement |
Personal details | |
Born |
Nashville, Tennessee |
February 14, 1945
Political party | Democratic |
Alma mater |
Middle Tennessee State University Peabody College |
William Hill "Bill" Boner (born February 14, 1945) is a Tennessee educator and former Democratic politician. He was the third mayor of the Metropolitan government of Nashville and Davidson County, serving from 1987 to 1991. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives, as the Representative from the 5th District of Tennessee, from 1979 to 1988.
He was born in East Nashville, traditionally a politically active part of the city. A star at East Nashville High School, from which he graduated in 1963, he subsequently entered the fields of teaching and coaching, and for two years was basketball coach at Trevecca Nazarene College (now University). He graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 1967, and received a master's degree from the former Peabody College in 1969. He also became a popular and respected high school and middle school sports referee. In 1970, he was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives, a part-time position, for the first time, serving until 1972.
Leaving the field of education, he became a bank official at First American National Bank (now part of AmSouth) and enrolled in the former YMCA Night Law School (now Nashville School of Law), a school specializing in part-time, mid-career students. He later (1978) graduated from this institution, but never took the bar exam to be admitted to the practice of law. While employed at the bank, Boner was again elected to the State House in 1974. He moved to the Tennessee State Senate in 1974. After only one term He then made the decision to enter the Democratic primary against incumbent 5th District Congressman Clifford Allen in 1978.