Billy Bulger
| William M. Bulger | |
|---|---|
Bulger (right) with Boston Mayor Ray Flynn
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| President of the University of Massachusetts | |
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In office 1996–2003 |
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| Appointed by | William Weld |
| Preceded by | Shirley Penney |
| Succeeded by | Jack M. Wilson |
| President of the Massachusetts Senate | |
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In office 1978–1996 |
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| Preceded by | Kevin B. Harrington |
| Succeeded by | Tom Birmingham |
| Member of the Massachusetts Senate for the First Suffolk District |
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In office 1971–1996 |
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| Preceded by | Joe Moakley |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Lynch |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
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In office 1961–1971 |
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| Preceded by | Joe Moakley |
| Succeeded by | Raymond Flynn |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Michael Bulger February 2, 1934 Dorchester, Massachusetts |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Bulger (1960–present) |
| Relations | Whitey Bulger (brother) |
| Children | Bill Jim Patrick Dan Chris Brendan Sarah Mary Kathleen |
| Education |
B.A. Boston College, 1957 (English Literature) J.D. Boston College (Law), 1961 |
| Occupation | Politician, educator, attorney |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
| Nickname(s) | Billy |
William Michael "Billy" Bulger (born February 2, 1934) is a retired American Democratic politician, lawyer, and educator from South Boston, Massachusetts, whose eighteen-year tenure as President of the Massachusetts Senate is the longest in history, and who was also president of the University of Massachusetts. He was forced to resign from the latter post after he refused to testify in a 2003 Congressional hearing about communications he had with his then-fugitive brother, James "Whitey" Bulger, Jr., a Boston crime boss.
Bulger was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, to James Joseph Bulger, Senior and Jane Veronica "Jean" McCarthy, who were of Irish descent. He is the third of six children in the family, and younger brother of former mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger. When Bulger was four years old, the family moved to South Boston's Old Harbor Village housing project, soon after it opened, in 1938. He grew up there and has maintained lifelong friendships with many of those who were his former neighbors, including best friend, Korean War Marine P.O.W. and Purple Heart recipient Fred L. Toomey. The late Congressman Joe Moakley (1927–2001) was also a close childhood neighbor. Although the Bulger family was poor, William matriculated into Boston College High School. He enrolled at Boston College in 1952, but his undergraduate career was interrupted when he joined the United States Army. He served from September 1953 to November 1955, then returned to Boston College, completing his undergraduate degree in English Literature with the help of the G.I. Bill. He attended Boston College Law School, from which he received his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 1961. He is also the recipient of over 20 honorary degrees from a variety of academic institutions.
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