Governor William F. Winter enlisted in the United States Army as a private in 1943. He completed the Infantry Officer Candidate School on 17 October 1943 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. His initial assignment was as a platoon leader with he IRTC, Fort McClellan, AL from 1944-1945. | Mr Winters second and last assignment was as Liaison Officer, G-3 Section, 86th Infantry Division in the Pacific. He retired from active duty in 1946 with the rank of Major. | Upon retiring form the army, Mr. Winter returned to the University of Mississippi and completed his law degree in 1949. He was admitted to the bar. His political career began in 1948 with his election to the Mississippi House of Representatives. He continued in that capacity until 1956 when he became state tax collector. After 8 years in that capacity, he served as State Treasurer until 1968. In 1972 he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi and served in that capacity until 1976. | Governor Winter has served as a director of the First Magnolia Federal Savings and Loan Association; a member of the board of trustees of the Mississippi Department Archives and History; trustee at Columbia Seminary; board of directors of the Lamar Society; and the Mississippi Foundation of Independent Colleges. | He was the 1972 recipient of the Margaret Dixon Freedom of Information Award given by the Associated Press. In 1975 he was the Omicron Delta Kappa Outstanding Alumnus of the University of Mississippi. | In addition to being Governor of Mississippi, Mr. Winter was a partner in the law firm of Watkins, Pyle, Ludlam, Winter, and Stennis.