Biography:

Mayor; administrator; soldier. Born– March 5, 1896, Montgomery. Parents– William A. and Mary (Winn) Gayle. Married– Katharine Anderson, September 20, 1918. Children– One. Education– Study at U.S. Naval Academy, 1914-1915; University of Alabama, 1915-1916. Served in the U.S. Navy in  World War I; worked nine years as general manager of Anderson Coal Company; was Assistant Adjutant General of Alabama, then Adjutant General, with the rank of Brigadier; commissioner of the City of Montgomery. Colonel in U. S. Army Air Force Air Force during World War II, continuing active duty in Alabama National Guard. Public works commissioner of the city of Montgomery; elected mayor of the city in 1951 and served until 1959. The Montgomery Bus Boycott took place during his term in office.  Member, Free and Accepted Masons, Knights of Pythias, the Shrine, and Elks. Received the Bronze Star for his service in WWII. Died July 5, 1965.

Source:

Owen’s The Story of Alabama.

Publication(s):

The Poems of William Gayle. Montgomery, Ala.; Paragon Press, 1934.